Juliet White-Smith, Violist

For those of you interested in viola study at the University of Northern Colorado, I have included a brief philosophy of my teaching below. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me at juliet.whitesmith@unco.edu or submit a request for further information by visiting the Contact Us  page.

My teaching style is a holistic one: I am concerned with not only developing and honing the technical and musical skills of my students, but I am a firm believer that one must address body, mind and spirit in the successful development of the whole musician. I do this in a variety of ways by:

• Providing the knowledge and resources for a sound pedagogical foundation;

• Taking into consideration the specific learning styles of each student in order to facilitate his/her success;

• Incorporating mental practice in the training of muscles to execute in order to develop an efficient and healthy approach to the instrument;

• Presenting technical and musical skills through a natural, uninhibited physical approach to the instrument with the intent of preventing physical injury and developing a more enjoyable experience overall; and

• Encouraging students to explore various mental practices, including meditation, as tools to assist with mental focus and the elimination of distraction in the practice room, on the stage and as an overall approach to life.

My goal is to develop each student’s natural ability to be a self-learner by developing increased self-awareness and by fostering a desire to continue to learn and grow beyond the formal degree program.