Anoniem Na 34 weken les
My name is Katerina Papakostaki, and I am a Greek, hardworking, and ambitious young cellist. I live in beautiful Utrecht for the last six years and, even if my Dutch is not perfect, I feel the Netherlands as my second home.
I started playing cello when I was six years old, and I immediately fell in love with it. I basically knew already I want to become a professional musician the moment I played my first note! After finishing my music studies in Greece, I decided I want to travel the world and find the perfect place for me to further my studies and involve my cello playing. I traveled, and I found Utrecht to be the place I was looking for
I received my Bachelor’s degree from Utrechts Conservatorium after four years of practicing and meeting new people and music experiences, in the class of Timora Rosler. After my Bachelor’s, I spent a year studying in the Royal Conservatory of Brussels with Olsi Leka as my professor. After the end of the course I decided to come back to Utrecht and start my Master course in HKU, in the class of Jeroen den Herder.IN JUne 2021 I graduated with my Masters and completed this beautiful circle of studies. In addition I also studied baroque cello with Viola de Hoog.
Apart from studying, I play in various avenues around the Netherlands, I am a member in chamber music ensembles. I participate in semi-professional orchestras, I have been a member of the NJO- Nederland Jeugd Orkest, I have been principal cellist in GouweHart Orkest in Gouda and I have been a member of the VU Orkest in Amsterdam.
I have a long experience in cello teaching and it is one of my greatest passions, as I believe that through teaching music not only you are sharing information and knowledge about music, you also influence the soul and mind of a person. My private lessons are efficient, personal and designed for your needs so you get the best out of our lessons based on your needs and schedule.
Through my already existing private lessons, I have gained a sufficient amount of experience when it comes to teaching students of every age and level. Moreover, I feel very confident when it comes to my methodology knowledge and didactic technics I developed through my studying years in HKU. My Bachelor was focused on teaching and academic methods, and my final research was a detailing essay on how to help and approach a pupil who suffers from stage-fright, fear of failure, and similar forms of anxiety.
Through my lessons, a pupil will be able to advance their technique, their understanding, and perception of music and their musicality. All these will be achieved through an individual model designed from every pupil based on their abilities, age, the time they want to spend on personal practicing and level. For me, each pupil must be taken care of at their own pace and based on their own needs and abilities, so the lessons will be as efficient and productive but as much enjoyable and fun as possible.
Children:
The lessons for children are fun, pleasant and cover the basics of music theory, singing, and a fun introduction to the cello and cello playing. The kids will have the chance to learn the basics of cello playing through the Suzuki method.
Beginners:
It is absolutely ok if you are not familiar with reading music. Through my lessons you will have the opportunity to learn rhythm, tempo, note reading and be able to apply those in cello playing, with my introductory lessons to the instrument. You will have the chance to play in a cello duo and be accompanied by piano (I also play a bit of piano) in order to expand your inspiration, motivation and musicality.
Intermediates:
Are you at the level where you start to understand the basics of cello very well but struggle with thumb position, intonation or position shifting? Through my lessons you will get all the attention you need in order to overcome these obstacles and feel confident enough to play more virtuosic pieces. The lessons will be consistent by scales, Duport and Dotzauer etudes and easy pieces from the cello repertoire.
Advanced:
Are you an advanced cello student who wants to keep on improving your craftsmanship or you wish to get accepted in a Conservatorium for extensive studies and you need a teacher to prepare you for your auditions? Through my lessons we will prepare a high level repertoire for any audition or occasion you need. We will cover Popper and Grutzmacher etudes, as long as Piatti capriccios. Sonatas and concerti of the standard repertoire are also on the list.
All genres and needs:
If you want to learn how to play the cello but you are not a big classical music fan, that’s not a problem. The lessons can focus on pop, rock and in other music genres.
Online lessons?
Online lessons are also a possibility, so if you live far away or you are shy to come over, feel free to apply for an online lesson!
Through my cello lessons i always spend a sufficient amount of time in teaching music theory as it is an intergral part of learning how to play cello. Throughout my lessons my pupils get the opportunity to learn note reading, rhythm ,and the basics of theory.
After a semester of lessons my students are a able to read and understand all the elements someone can encounter while reading a music score and be able to understand what they mean in order to navigate easier through music.