CELLO & CHAMBER MUSIC TEACHING

RECENT MASTERCLASSES:

• Romsey Chamber Music Festival Quartet Masterclass, Hampshire, UK, June 2023

• Royal Academy of Music Cello Masterclass (pictured at right), London, January 2023

• University of California Irvine Chamber Music Masterclass, 2017

PAST TEACHING POSITIONS:

• Pascale Music Institute, South Pasadena, CA, 2015 - 2019

• USC Thornton School Non-Major Chamber Music Program, Los Angeles, CA, 2018

• Harvard University HARMONY Program, Cambridge, MA, 2011-2013

PRESS: Piatigorsky Festival 2016 Interview about teaching philosophy.

TESTIMONIALS:

“Having had Rainer as a cello teacher for my two daughters, who are 5 years apart in age, I can say that he not only has immeasurable patience for his students, but also has a knack for connecting with students of all ages and abilities. In addition to focusing on technique, he equally emphasizes musicality and engaged playing, which raises his students’ playing to the next level. My daughters liked and respected him tremendously.” 

-Tina Li, Pascale Music Institute parent 

“I am an older beginning music student with basic music reading skills and came to Rainer frustrated from prior cello instructional experience. He is a miracle because I have had two professional cello teachers who were unable to relate to my specific individual needs and limitations. I became comfortable with Rainer, who so skillfully, patiently, and enthusiastically is able to provide clear demonstration and instruction of methodology and technique. Mr. Crosett not only understands and works around my present musical and physical limitations as a senior but also has a multitude of technical teaching techniques to aid in my learning and appreciation of the cello.”

-Robert Francis, adult student

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:

My teaching philosophy is grounded in a commitment to understanding each student’s unique artistic voice and goals. I work with students to develop a comprehensive plan for their time studying with me, including frequent opportunities for reflection, evaluation, and adjustment. I aim to strengthen the analytical aspects of their musicianship and technique problem-solving skills through a teaching style that is not simply about providing quick answers, but rather about awakening their curiosity for experimentation and self-evaluation in the lesson and practice room. I care deeply about ensuring that each student develops a fluent instrumental technique, prioritizing bodyweight awareness, efficiency and flexibility of motion, and hand shape analysis to promote a healthy and productive physical relationship to the cello for the long term. Alongside this instrumental exploration, areas of musical investigation I emphasize include understanding the extent to which a composer’s writing engages with and/or subverts stylistic paradigms of their historical period, examining a work’s relationship to the composer’s larger oeuvre, and interrogating commonly held beliefs about performance practice or convention. The Socratic method is a main influence on my pedagogical style, in that I seek to uncover the assumptions that students have formed in their individual work, relating both to technique and musical conceptions, which may be holding them back from realizing their artistic potential.

Equally important to me is nurturing the creative spirit of each student and their self-confidence in expressing a unique perspective on a work of music. I enjoy having discussions with students about musical ideas - I find that much like in chamber music, when each musician brings strong opinions to the table, the result is often more interesting and compelling than when everyone agrees from the start. To that end, I avoid any style of teaching which situates students’ mistakes in the foreground of lesson feedback, often at the expense of their ability to deliver confident performances and express their ideas boldly under pressure. I prefer methods which can reveal unifying themes, principles, or concepts that solve underlying problems without making the student overly self-conscious of their shortcomings. Whether it be landing an orchestra job, finding a teaching position, starting a chamber music series, founding a string quartet, or crafting a freelance career, I know the steps required to prepare students for whatever ambitions they have, and I aim to be their number-one supporter on their journey toward achieving those.