Dana Anex

My aim as a music teacher is to help students of all ages and levels of experience develop the technical and creative skills necessary for a lifetime of musical activity. To accomplish this aim, every student needs a foundation which includes an understanding of the physical mechanics of playing, ear training, theoretical knowledge, historical context, chamber music performance, and opportunities to experiment with improvisation. Suzuki education provides a great foundation for young string players towards accomplishing these musical aims.

I began teaching private and group violin and viola lessons in 2019 during the final year of my undergraduate study in viola performance at Northwestern University, where I studied viola with Helen Callus and string pedagogy with Stacia Spencer. At that time, I decided that I wanted to teach music and promote classical music performance as a social activity, so I continued teaching independently in the Chicago area and in Chicago Public Schools through Chicago School of Musical Arts. In 2020, I decided to pursue my Master’s in Humanities at The University of Chicago, where I focused on the history of music theory and prepared a thesis on Paul Hindemith’s pedagogical book The Craft of Musical Composition advised by Thomas Christensen. After completing my Master’s, I began teaching with Ravinia’s El Sistema-inspired program in Chicago Public Schools, where I was able to implement ideas I had encountered in my graduate studies. My experience teaching in this program confirmed that a creativity-centered approach, including composition and improvisation studies, leads to better outcomes for students intellectually, musically, and socially.

I teach violin, viola, and theory/keyboard skills for string players.