Emily Sunderman

Violin, Viola, Cello & Chamber Ensembles

Teaching Artist Statement

Emily’s goal as a teacher is not only to develop the musician in every student but to nurture the entire person and support the development of life skills such as coordination, self-evaluation and motivation, listening, patience, and perseverance. Emily teaches in a way that new ideas are presented in small steps so the student can succeed and be proud of their achievements with every new skill. Lessons model ideal practice sessions. Old skills serve as building blocks for new material, so the child is always developing a more extensive vocabulary. Refinement of skills is integrated into daily practice and teaching through reviewing older repertoire. With positive guidance and support, students develop confidence and healthy self-esteem as well as proficiency in violin technique and musical literacy.

teaching bio

Emily began her music studies at the Hartford Conservatory at age three with Suzuki Violin visionary Barbara Embser. Her pre-professional violin technique and orchestra studies were at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT, and chamber music at Point CounterPoint, Lucerne, and Apple Hill. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree at Hampshire College, in Amherst, MA, she started what was to become a 25-year professional career as a business and technology analyst, project manager, and technology trainer for corporations, including Citibank, Investors Bank and Trust and United Business Media. Throughout her corporate career, she maintained her study and practice of violin and chamber music. Her primary teacher was Arturo Delmoni, concertmaster of the New York City Ballet. She also studied privately with Katherine Winterstein, Dieuwke Davydov, Sebu Sirinian (Turtle Bay School of Music), Nickoli Sikorsky, Laura Bossert (LyricaFest), and Gillian Rogell (New England Conservatory). Emily has been a full-time violinist since 2014 and is committed to lifelong learning and continues to take lessons, participate in master classes, and study pedagogy.

Emily has completed training in Suzuki violin pedagogy for violin books 1-8 at Ithaca College and Hartt School of Music. The Suzuki Method combines a music teaching method with a philosophy, embracing the total development of the person, which follows Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s guiding principle, “character first, ability second.” The Suzuki Violin Method involves a combination of weekly private lessons and regular group classes. In the Suzuki approach, students learn to play music in the same way they learn their native language – through listening, repetition, motivation, encouragement, and love.

performance bio

Emily has performed in collaboration with Sadie Brightman, Arturo Delmoni, Cynthia Huard, George Matthew, Elizabeth Reid, Peter Sanders, Jon Weber, Miho Weber, and Robert Wyatt and with ensembles including The Addison String Quartet, Middlebury Community Chorus, Middlebury Bach Festival, and Hinesburg Artists Series Orchestra. She also frequently plays for wedding ceremonies and cocktail receptions with MCMC faculty Dayve Huckett and Ron White. Emily teaches violin and viola private lessons for beginning-advanced players, cello lessons for beginning-intermediate players, and Suzuki Violin Group Class. In the summers she directs Camp Adagio Chamber Music Camp for youth and teens, and the Middlebury Chamber Music Festival, and conducts the all-ages Summer String Orchestra for intermediate and advanced players.