Kimberly Hankins

I believe that playing the viola should feel like an extension of ourselves, and if we achieve this, we are able to fully express our musical ideas with ease. Therefore, my approach to teaching emphasizes foundational aspects of playing the viola (i.e. setup, posture, and how to play with ease), while also focusing on developing musical ability and broadening the range of techniques necessary to perform any type of music.

None of us have exactly the same physical proportions, the same length arms, fingers, or neck, and so with my background in postural alignment and functional anatomy I help students find their ideal setup for playing their instrument. I also incorporate a variety of pedagogical tools that can help students feel more into their body while playing. My experience studying with Karen Tuttle and Heidi Castleman students has given me a detailed understanding of viola technique, and I use that to further help my students. With current statistics stating that 80-90% of all classical musicians will experience a playing related injury during their career, I strongly believe in doing everything I can to help my students avoid this very real problem.

I also believe that none of us learn exactly the same way. I like for my students to discover what type of learner they are, and what types of strategies work best for them. Being in the practice room for 4-6 hours a day can help create a solid foundation for musicians, but those hours should incorporate score study, ear training, coordination, sight reading, and other types of relevant study. The more efficient we are in the practice room, the faster we learn information and the less time we need to spend problem solving each challenging passage.

My goal is for each of my students to walk away with all of the tools they need to become more effective musicians that can fully express themselves through the viola. They understand what they want the music to sound like before they play, and can self-assess the best way to achieve that. The foundational anatomical concepts that I incorporate into our lessons allow for us to better conversations about the physicality of playing an instrument, as well as create strategies to reduce the risk of injury and find their most optimal sound for a given passage.

A true test of knowledge is the ability to teach someone else what you have learned, and so I periodically ask my students to pretend that I am a beginner and have them teach me to play the viola. This helps me understand what qualities they prioritize in their own playing, but also informs me where their knowledge is lacking and how to best help them become experts in their field.