About me and my teaching studio
Greetings! I’m Jane Melin (rhymes with Green). I teach violin, beginning to advanced; viola, beginning to intermediate; and piano, beginning to intermediate, in north Kitsap County. I am a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Violin through MTNA and past president of the Kitsap Music Teachers Association. I’m a listed Community Based Instructor with the Quilcene and Orcas Island School Districts, able to provide subsidized music lessons to homeschooled students enrolled with one of these districts.
My teaching approach prioritizes music literacy, musical variety, and unlimited learning.
Music Literacy: Music-reading skills are emphasized for all students, even the youngest. Fluency in the written language of music, at the student’s current technical skill level, is the goal.
Musical Variety: Foundational skills are taught using multiple pieces, in a spiral-learning approach. If a student hits a wall with a technical or music literacy skill in one piece, there is always another piece that can teach that skill. Students are free to make choices in their repertoire, within a menu of pieces at each technical level. The higher the level, the more varied the menu.
Unlimited Learning: Though my teaching does follow a laddered sequence, I don’t have a one-size-fits-all program. Students with strong aptitude and practice habits will move forward as quickly as they master new skills. Students with learning challenges will also set their own pace. My goal is that each student will experience consistent forward progress. Much of this depends on the student’s own commitment to apply what they’ve learned through effective at-home practice. I offer many enrichment resources for those who want to take advantage of them.
I’m a lifelong learner, too.
I began my own violin studies at age 8 in Seattle. I’m an avid orchestral and chamber musician. I also love exploring the worlds of bluegrass, Celtic fiddle and jazz improvisation. I have been a first violinist in the Bremerton Symphony since 1997 and also played with the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, Washington University Symphony, and Seattle Youth Symphony. I directed an adult church choir for ten years. I learned piano as a secondary instrument and find it is an excellent tool to help string musicians better understand the structure of music. I try to communicate my enthusiasm for learning to my students!
My students participate in fun events each year like the Kitsap Young Musicians Festival, Kitsap Music Teachers Association Music Carnival, WSMTA Music Artistry and Music Literacy Programs, Seattle Young Artists Festival, Christmas ensembles, studio parties and more. I encourage my students to prepare to join local ensembles like school and community orchestras for maximum application and enjoyment of the skills they attain in private lessons.
Continuously improving my skills as a musician and teacher is important to me. I pursued a rigorous teaching certification through Music Teachers National Association; completed a professional string teachers’ course under noted pedagogue Mimi Zweig at Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University (Suzuki method synthesis); received teacher-training for Books 1-5 in the O’Connor Violin Method; participated in numerous pedagogy and performance workshops through MTNA, ASTA and Nathan Cole’s professional violinists’ courses. I am very active in the Kitsap MTA (2018-2020 President; ongoing Technology Chair) and Washington State MTA (Vocal and Instrumental Chair) which focus on professional development and peer support. I have served as substitute concertmaster and section leader for the Bremerton Westsound Symphony; sectional coach for Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra, Bremerton Youth Symphony and Poulsbo Community Orchestra; advanced ensemble teacher for Kitsap Home School Strings; and Debut Orchestra director for the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra.
I invite you to browse my web site for more information; start at the About the Studio (Lesson Info) page. Please contact me if you would like more information about my teaching schedule, rates and methods at the email address above.