Yuri Kalnits
I was exceptionally fortunate in the teachers and musicians who shaped me. My father laid the foundations of my playing, while my studies at Gnessin gave me the intensive musical and technical education for which the great Russian specialist music schools are renowned. When I moved to London at sixteen, I continued my studies with Professor Itzhak Rashkovsky at the Royal College of Music, and later with Yfrah Neaman and Vasko Vassilev. Over the years I also had the opportunity to receive guidance from musicians including Shlomo Mintz, Abram Shtern, Igor Oistrakh, Sergei Fatkoulline and Edward Grach. Each brought a different perspective, but the principles established in my earliest training have remained fundamental to the way I play and teach.
Teaching has always been a natural extension of my life as a performer. I grew up in Moscow in a musical family and received my first violin lessons from my father. From the beginning, learning the violin was about far more than simply mastering the instrument: it was about developing the ear, the imagination and an understanding of how technique serves musical expression.
My early training in Moscow, first at the Central Music School and later at the Gnessin Music School for Gifted Children, placed me firmly within the tradition of the great Russian violin school, that has produced many of the greatest violinists, both current and historical. It is a tradition I continue to value enormously as an approach in which sound, freedom of expression and technical command are inseparable. Great importance is placed on the quality and character of the sound, on developing a natural relationship with the instrument, and on giving a young musician the technical resources to express an individual musical idea.
With Maxim Vengerov (2nd from right) in the class of Galina Turchaninova (Moscow, 1982)
A strong technical foundation is central to my approach, but technique is never an end in itself. In lessons, we work on freedom and coordination of the whole body, the relationship between the bow and the left hand, sound production, intonation and the development of a reliable technique that will continue to serve the player as the repertoire becomes more demanding. Just as importantly, I want students to understand why they are doing something and to become increasingly independent in solving musical and technical problems for themselves.
I teach students at many different stages, from very young players establishing their foundations to advanced students preparing for conservatoire study and professional careers, as well as adults and professional musicians looking to address particular aspects of their playing. Whatever the level, my aim is the same: to give each player the technical freedom, musical curiosity and confidence to develop a voice of their own.
I take huge pleasure and pride in seeing my students succeed, whether that's through their excellent exam results, winning music scholarships to some of the UK's most prestigious independent schools or a coveted position in a top professional orchestra!
Masterclasses, Workshops & Orchestral Coaching
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Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
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Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra
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Music for the Future (Slovenia)
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Ljubljana International Festival
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Beyond the Music Festival (Spain)
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Bowdoin Summer Music School (USA)
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Enterprise Scotland
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Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Schools my students have won scholarships to
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St Paul's Girls School
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Godolphin & Latymer
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City of London School for Girls
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Putney High School
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Latymer
Face-to-Face Lessons in London
In my South West London studio, I work with a broad range of students, from gifted young children to young professionals preparing for orchestral auditions, as well as anyone simply wanting to take their violin playing to the next level. Please contact me to find out about lesson availability and rates.
1-2-1 Online Violin Lessons
Online lessons are perfect for you if you either have a one-off issue you wish to resolve or you really wish to take your playing to the next level with regular lessons. I regularly work with students across the globe. You don't need any special equipment - a laptop or tablet will suffice. I mainly use Zoom for my online teaching. Once you have purchased either a single lesson or a bundle, I will be in touch with you to arrange lessons at a mutually convenient time.
Get in touch!
