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Jenny | Cello Teaching with 🤍

@jennydownscello

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Over the past handful of years I have made small changes to the way I set up my lessons as well as slowly added different options for a growing number of different needs. Weekly 1-1 lessons are the model we are used to, and the one I still subscribe to as the optimal learning experience for most young learners. But, I don’t just teach the the optimal young student, that has the funds, the dedicated family support, the same learning style or abilities, the same goals and drive.
I teach returning to the cello adults, new cello adults, kids with learning disabilities, families with limited funds (yes, cello isn’t cheap-the instrument or a highly trained teacher), cellists with hectic or unpredictable schedules. I’ve added different modalities of learning. And most recently, as I’ve thought about how to reach the hundreds of kids who start in their school orchestras, but can’t commit either time or $ to private lessons, I’ve come up with options to help them and others who just need occasional help. My weekly 1-1 lessons are typically always full. These other options help get some started while they are waiting for that optimal spot. It’s been tricky unwiring my brain to the one way I’ve known, but guess what? Cello is actually becoming increasingly popular. Most of the best teachers here in the valley are booked solid. So these changes and options began when I considered how to make my reach go a little further. No cello teacher wants to turn away another human wanting to play the best instrument ever made. But we have to, because there’s only so many hours in a day. The Practice Space has been really great for some of my students to have all their assignments and videos in one accessible place. I’ve also had a couple of which this isn’t their ideal learning situation. So we pivoted to a different option. But it’s another option if you are remote- literally anywhere in the world- because the clock doesn’t determine lesson time.
I’m happy with what my offerings have the ability to reach and do for up and coming cellists. And yes, my life is a myriad of spreadsheets 🤣. #cellolife #musiceducation #homeschooloptions #learnsomethingnew by @jennydownscello

A few years ago I created a cello program.
Good for adults, teens, older children. Helpful as more detailed instruction with those learning cello in an orchestra without a private teacher. Or if cost is an issue, this is a cost effective way to get a start on the cello. Or sometimes, the time commitment for regular lessons is an issue with adults, and this can get your feet wet as a start to cello to see if more traditional lessons is something you want to invest in in the future.
Jennycello.com is linked in my bio. Happy music making:) by @jennydownscello

Did you know Carol of the Bells is a Ukrainian tune? One of our cello choir members is from the Ukraine and the composer is from the town she grew up in. Merry Christmas by @jennydownscello

Merry Halloween everyone. This year most people greeted us with Merry Christmas! #winning by @jennydownscello

Swipe through to see our exciting news.
#wedding2027 #fallvibes #proposal by @jennydownscello

Fall break means I have time to do this… and yes that’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”on the TV. Guess what this years main tree theme is. 😁 #fallbreak #itsawonderfullife #treedecorating #guessthetheme by @jennydownscello

Happy, helpful, affectionate, inquisitive, inquisitive, inquisitive, social, fun seeking, and one incredible soul. Our family is the luckiest to learn from him even if it means he’ll continue to test and embarrass every one of us at times. He loves everyone- and that’s the rarest strength of anyone in this world.
Happy Birthday Wesley.
#happybirthday #specialneedsmom #blessed by @jennydownscello

VIDEO 3/3
I don’t know what this man’s intentions were.

I can’t tell you that he intended to harm anyone.

But I can tell you what happened, what I found, what other teachers experienced, and what I reported to law enforcement.

And it changed the way I think about safety as a private teacher.

The biggest lesson for me wasn’t “be afraid of strangers.”

It was:

Have a process.

Listen when something feels off—but don’t stop there.

Verify information.
Pay attention to inconsistencies.
Communicate with other teachers.
Document concerning interactions.
And report things when appropriate.

I had never thought I needed to Google someone who inquired about cello lessons.

I’m really glad I did this time.

If you’re a private music teacher, I’d love for you to share this with another teacher. You never know when a simple safety habit might matter.

#MusicTeacherSafety #PrivateTeacher #TeacherSafety MusicTeacher CelloTeacher TeacherCommunity by @jennydownscello

After finding the article, I contacted more than 20 cello teachers in my area to give them a heads-up.

VIDEO 2/3
And then I started getting replies.

One teacher told me this same man had been texting her THAT DAY about cello lessons.

Another had been contacted by him years earlier.

And then I gave him the contact information for a male cello teacher- but the guy never reached out to him. by @jennydownscello

VIDEO 1/3
I have taught private cello lessons for more than 20 years, and I’ve had hundreds of new students and parents contact me.

This started as a completely normal inquiry from an adult student.

But something about the way he communicated made me pause. Nothing was overtly threatening or inappropriate—I just had a feeling that I should verify that he was who he said he was.

So I Googled him.

What I found was a KSL news article about a man with the same name, similar age, and a prior sexual-assault case (within the past year).

At that point, I still didn’t know if it was the same person.

What happened next made me take it much more seriously. #MusicTeacherSafety #PrivateTeacher #TeacherSafety CelloTeacher SafetyFirst by @jennydownscello

1 kid to send out this door this year… she’s ready to kill it. #thecaboose #firstday #letsdothis by @jennydownscello

Here’s to the miracle of aligning schedules and doing a small family adventure last week….
Too bad some people didn’t do well with their sunscreen and are paying for it. by @jennydownscello