Teaching

Faculty Positions - Violin, Viola and Chamber Music

Instructor, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN, 1995 - present

Lecturer in Music, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, 1993-present

Instructor, Augsburg College, Minnepolis, MN, 1988-present

Instructor, MacPhail Center for the Arts, Minneapolis, MN, 1974 - 1998

Mary Budd Horozaniecki has been a huge influence in my life and there is no way to do justice with words alone. As a young student, she instilled a love of the violin and passion for its history, enthusiasm, high expectations and dedication. I try to pass on this heritage to my own students. Significantly, she remains an incredibly supportive mentor, friend, and has helped me find opportunities in my teaching career as well, over 20 years after I technically stopped studying with her. "Mrs. H" will always be my teacher.

Katie Wolfe
Associate Professor of Violin
The University of Iowa School of Music

Academic Courses

Independent Study, String Pedagogy, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, 2003

"String Methods," Macalester College, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, 1995-present

Honors and Awards

Master Teacher of the Year, American String Teachers Association, Minnesota, Chapter, 1993

Outstanding Program Award, MacPhail Summer String Academy, University of Minnesota, 1991

Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Music, The World Who's Who of Women 11th Edition, 1991

Fellowship winner, Blossom Festival School, Cleveland, OH, 1972, 1973

Symposia and Conferences

Presentor, ASTA with NSOA National Conferences

"Violin Duo Literature: 1835-1900 Teaching Gems from Great Masters," Kansas City, MO, March, 2006

"Violin Duo Literature: 20th Century Teaching Gems," Reno, NV, February, 2005

"Violin Duos: A Teachers Guide to Duo Literature 1782-1832," Columbus, OH, March, 2004

Participant, Starling-Delay Symposium on Violin Studies, The Juilliard School, New York, NY

"Exceptional Teaching-Exceptional Students," June, 2005

"Legacy of Learning 2003, Teaching the Exceptional Young Violinist," June, 2003

Participant, Studio Teachers Forum, ASTA, Bloomington, IN, May, 2000

Participant, Special Session, "Chamber Music with Piano- Menahem Pressler," Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 1980-1990

Master Classes and Guest Lectures

"A Violin Master Class with Mary Horozaniecki," University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, April, 2005

"Violin Master Class with Mary Horozaniecki," University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, February 2005

Guest Lectures and Master Classes, Crane School of Music, State University of New York, Potsdam, NY, October, 2004

"Preparation for Teaching School-aged String Quartets"

"Working with your Pianist, as you prepare for your Levels"

"How to Prepare Sonatas for Strings and Piano"

"A Violin Master Class with Mary Horozaniecki," Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, October, 2004

"Violin Master Class with Mary Horozaniecki," Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, April, 2001

Guest Lecture, "Josef Gingold, Virtuoso Teacher," Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN, February, 2001

Guest Lectures and Master Classes, Crane School of Music, State University of New York, Potsdam, NY, January, 2001

"Josef Gingold, Virtuoso Teacher"

"Violin Pedagogy, the Etudes of Kreutzer"

"Violin Master Class with Mary Horozaniecki," Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, April, 2000

"Violin Masterclass with Mary Horozaniecki, " String Academy, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, July, 1996

"Pedagogy for School Music Teachers," MacPhail Center for the Arts, Minneapolis, MN, August, 1992

"How to Take an Audition," Thursday Musical, Minneapolis, MN, May, 1991

Summer Workshops and Programs

Faculty, Upper Midwest String and Chamber Music Conference, Mankato, MN, 1991 - Present

Faculty, Augsburg String Quartet Institute, Minneapolis, MN, 1992 - 1999

Faculty, MacPhail String Academy, Minneapolis, MN, 1990 - 1993

Faculty, Orchestral Institute of America, Minneapolis, MN, 1983 - 1993

Faculty, Young People's Chamber Music Club, MacPhail Center, Minneapolis, MN, 1983 - 1984

My Teaching Philosophy

Some years ago, while I was teaching at the MacPhail Center for the Arts, I was working with a Neurosurgeon who came to me to improve his violin playing. After observing him I discovered that he needed massive rehabilitation in basic skills. His bow hold was not serving him well. The bow was crooked and his posture was working against him. His playing was stiff.

He wanted to play a Brahms Sonata with his colleague, something not too difficult for him to learn, but too difficult to produce with his technique on the violin. I was puzzled as to what to do. Do I take him back to "Twinkle" or just do the best I could with the Brahms sonata?

Fortunately I was going to Bloomington, Indiana for a lesson with my mentor, Josef Gringold, so I asked him. He replied, ".... give him your best Mary."

What was "My best"? What do I have to offer students? So I made a list.

I share the valuable experiences I have had working with great mentors of the violin.
I play the violin well, and have been through technical rehabilitation myself with Emily Austin in Detroit, and Margaret Pardee at the Meadowmount School.
I love to explore and learn.
I love to laugh and find joy.
I know the violin repertoire.
I have taught all levels.

So what really was in the best interest for this new student? We went back to "Twinkle" and back to basics. It didn't make me popular, but he did leave drawing a straight bow with a nice bow hold while performing with his colleague.

In my opinion there are several elements that make me a good teacher: patience, humor, consistency, doing what I do well, and finding the truth.

I believe there is a big difference between telling someone the truth, and guiding a student to find his or her own truth. I try to encourage the student to go looking for their own answers. When on the stage, they take with them the answers they have found in the practice room. The joy of playing the violin well is the reward for their search. My job is to give them options and inspire them to want to search.

I love to play and teach the violin. The joy I have received from knowing and working with my students is immeasurable.

Mary Budd Horozaniecki