Meet the Teachers
Joshua Weesner’s violin training began in childhood as a Suzuki student under Margie Keller. At the young age of 14 his studies continued at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the tutelage of Kevin Lawrence. He also attended competitive summer programs such as the Meadowmount School of Music, Killington Music Festival, and the Henry Mancini Institute.
Mr. Weesner has been a contract member of the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, and he has also played with the Chattanooga Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, Salisbury Symphony, Wilmington Symphony, an many other regional orchestras. As a recording artist and touring musician he performed with many artists, including “Ray Price and the Cherokee Cowboys,” the Collection, Astanza Project, and Martha Bassett.
As an accomplished recording engineer, composer, and orchestrator, Mr. Weesner enjoyed an extensive career providing custom music services for touring stage productions. With the music software company Notion Music as well as independently, Joshua was the Associate Music Supervisor for the national and international touring productions of: Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Baayork Lee's A Chorus Line, Jekyll and Hyde, Franco Dragone's India Circus, and Kung Fu Panda.
As a violin teacher, “Mr. Josh” has over fifteen years of experience teaching violin to students aged three through adult, from beginner to pre-college level. His music career is now completely devoted to full-time Suzuki teaching, and he has acquired registered Suzuki teacher training for Books 1-7 as well as Practicum and Group Class training. He continues his education in Suzuki pedagogy with such teacher trainers as James Hutchins, Nancy Lokken, Allen Lieb, and Ann Monzka Smelser. Mr. Josh serves on the board of the North Carolina Suzuki Association and has served as clinician for state-wide Suzuki events.
Amelia Weesner began her violin training as a child in the Suzuki studio of Paula Wayton in San Angelo, Texas. Ms. Wayton’s teaching and studio had a profound impact on Ms. Amelia, and her childhood memories of that studio continue to inspire Ms. Amelia today as she works together with Mr. Josh to build their studio.
As a young high school student Ms. Amelia was accepted into the University of the North Carolina School of the Arts, and she went on to also earn her Bachelor of Music (Violin Performance) and Masters in Music (Violin Performance) from UNCSA. While pursuing her Master’s degree she was awarded a graduate music theory assistantship, and she won the UNCSA Concerto Competition. Over the course of her studies she had the honor of studying with some of the finest violin teachers in the country, including Nicholas Mann, Robert Mann, Mitchell Stern, Liesel Soley, and Elaine Richey.
Ms. Amelia was a member of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra for eight years. She has also been a member of the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, and the Bach Festival Orchestra. Ms. Amelia has 25 years of teaching experience and registered teacher training in Suzuki Books 1 - 4.
In addition to managing the studio and teaching her wonderful students, Ms. Amelia is honored to be mother to her five beautiful children.
This is a Suzuki Program.
What is Suzuki?
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki was a Japanese violinist who founded the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. For many years he observed children and studied how they learn. His results at the Talent Education Institute were amazing, and his efforts have had a profound impact on music education throughout the world. Here are the main principles of the Suzuki approach:
1. Every child can learn to play the violin. We pursue excellence with each child.
2. The teacher, parent, and student work together. The parent is involved with lessons and is proactive at home as the "home teacher" or "practice partner."
3. Music is taught as a language. From birth, a baby continually hears his or her parents' language at home, and learns it by age 2-3. Similarly, Suzuki students listen to music for many hours every day. Music is immersed in their environment. Ear training is crucial because it teaches us the language of music, and forms the foundation for everything with music training.
To become a Suzuki teacher, one must pass an audition and undergo many hours of Suzuki Association certified pedagogy training for each unit or “Book level.” This training can take years, sometimes many years, and is often ongoing. Both Joshua and Amelia are registered Suzuki teachers and have undergone much Suzuki pedagogy training. They are also committed to ongoing training, for continued inspiration and growth.
Dr. Suzuki says:
“Beautiful tone, beautiful beautiful heart.”
“When love is deep, much can be accomplished.”
Our Program
Private Lessons, Group Classes, and Recitals
With weekly private lessons, students receive individual attention that is crucial for the student's skill development. Advanced players make violin look easy, but in truth it requires many, many years of private lessons with consistent, dedicated home practice. The journey is amazing, and filled with benefits that profoundly affect the student's total development. In our studio, the parent observes and participates in the private lessons. For the rest of the week, the student practices daily at home, with the parent as the "home teacher." Parents will be more hands-on with younger students. When students are older and more independent, the parent is still involved as one who oversees and supports the student's efforts.
Mr. Josh leads a group class for young beginners.
A very important component of our program is group classes. In the group setting, students work on the skills they are learning in the private lessons, expanding on those skills in a fun yet challenging way along with their friends and peers. We work on ensemble skills that can only be addressed as an ensemble. We play skill-enhancing games with our pieces that are only possible to play in the group setting. Also, when students see other young students playing violin at various levels, this not only teaches them more about violin, but inspires and motivates them to push forward with a positive and healthy attitude! Beginner students are inspired by advanced students, and advanced students encourage each other and the beginners.
As an integral part of our curriculum, we have many group classes during the school year.
All students participate in the recitals. We have solo recitals twice per year in which every student performs a solo. In addition, we have twice yearly all-studio concerts in which we all perform together as an ensemble. All of these performances are in a formal recital hall with a professional accompanist. Sometimes we perform in our community at places such as assisted living centers.
How to Join the Studio
1. Contact us to schedule a lesson observation and "meet & greet." This is a free trial period in which you meet us and learn about violin lessons with us. There is no commitment or payment required for this. We will try to combine your lesson observation with your "meet & greet," to save you some time. Before you attend your first observation, we must have your phone number for you that is not just a work number.
2. After your lesson observation/s and "meet & greet," secure a lesson time slot and schedule your first lesson.
Please do not obtain a violin yet. Please ask questions about violin renting/purchasing during our meet & greet.
Please keep in good communication with us and continue contacting us until your first lesson is scheduled. Once you have scheduled your first lesson and submitted your first payment, you are fully registered for lessons.
We are happy to hear from you, and we hope you can join us!