Roy Sonne
About
I played in the first violin section of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for 28 years. Now I am retired and I devote myself to teaching intermediate and advanced violin students. The focus is on building artistry, developing style, expressivity and projection, and discovering the linkage between technique and musical expression, while delving into the mechanics of violin technique and developing ease and fluency with etudes, (Mazas and Kreutzer) as well as through repertoire.
Teaching Style
Check out my Youtube page, under my name (Roy Sonne) where you will find about 40 instructional videos, on repertoire such as Mozart Concertos, Monti Czardas, Meditation from Thais, Beethoven Romance, Bach G Minor Adagio. Also you will find videos on many of the Mazas Etudes.
Curriculum
See above! For recommended student materials, I use the "Solos for Young Violinists" series by Barbara Barber, volumes 2 - 6, Mazas and Kreutzer Etudes, Scale sheets which I prepare personally, and other repertoire including many selections from the Fritz Kreisler Collection, and of course the Sonatas and Partitas of Bach. For serious students I recommend the books by Simon Fischer including "Practice", "Basics", and "The Violin Lesson". Also I highly recommend the Youtube videos by Daniel Kurganov on various aspects of violin technique.
Credentials & Affiliations
Member of the first violin section of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for 28 years. Previously concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra of Bolivia and Associate Concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica. Organizer and conductor/coach of music festivals in Costa Rica and Bolivia as well as numerous musical activities in the Pittsburgh area.