Teaching Approach

Photo: Josh Pelta-Heller

Cassia seeks to give her students a strong technical background while dynamically inspiring an affinity for the instrument. She believes in open communication between teacher and student, and in the use of positive critique to bring students closer to their individual goals.

Cassia focuses on each eliminating each student’s technical weaknesses. Using the books she has written (see the examples below), along with other traditional study books, she maps out a program to bring each student to the highest level, in the most efficient way.

Her teaching also emphasizes progress through the traditional cello repertoire. Students typically move through a path of repertoire that includes works by Romberg, Squire, Goltermann, Klengel, Faure, and Saint-Saens (among others,) before undertaking the study of advanced repertoire and major concertos. Weekly assignments are given from technical study books, etude books, duets, and one or more solo pieces.