Carray
Music
Violin & Viola with Monty
Currently serving students at two locations:
South Kansas City
at my home studio, just south of Grandview:
10413 Walrond Ave.
Kansas City, Mo. 64137
– near 435 / Hwy 71 & Redbridge Rd.
Kansas City North
at New Song Church:
8600 NE Sam Ray Rd.
Kansas City, Mo. 64156
– near Hwy 152 & Brighton Ave.
At my South Kansas City studio, I have immediate openings on Wednesday afternoons and on additional weekdays in the coming summer. At my Kansas City North studio, I have weekday openings in the coming summer.
Lesson fees:
$30 per 30-minute session, $40 per 45-minute session, and $50 per 60-minute session. Most of my students take 45-minute weekly lessons.
Advance payment or payment by the lesson is fine. I never charge for missed lesson appointments when students give advance notice of the absence.
A get-acquainted session is offered at no charge. It’s important to me that all my students feel ownership of their lessons and choice of instructor, and to feel personally invested in the direction of their musical study.
Teaching approach:
I love helping students develop their musical gifts, tools, pleasures and passions. Lessons are ideal for meeting special needs, exploring music and one’s instrument beyond school ensemble parameters, and/or pursuing styles of music that captivate a student most.
Lessons employ scale studies, étude literature, solo repertoire of interest, duets, sight-reading, and introductions to improvisation. It’s important to me to help my students explore performance pieces and situations that engage and inspire them. And I am very experienced in assisting students’ preparation for All-District, All-State, and area youth orchestra tryouts, Solo & Ensemble festival, recitals, and auditions for college and professional ensembles. I'm all about the partnership of private instructors and music educators toward our mutual students' artistic development.
Instruction specialties include bow hold, articulation & phrasing (including all that make playing Baroque, Classical, Romantic, fiddle & jazz distinct from each other), intonation (pitch awareness & anticipation), release of muscle tension, vivacious vibrato, dealing with performance anxiety, music theory fundamentals, preparation for auditions and all performance opportunities, and strategies for creative, effective and enjoyable personal practice.
I'm all about helping students to become independent musicians (i.e., their own instructor), and to pursue and create a variety of artistic opportunities.
Professional background:
Trilla and I enjoy a multilayered balance between performing and teaching. I’ve been a professional violinist and violist, private instructor, ensemble clinician and festival judge in the Kansas City area for two decades.
I’ve served as Adjunct Professor of Strings for Benedictine College, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Missouri Western State University, Northwest Missouri State University, and William Jewell College. I’ve conducted middle school and high school honors orchestras in Kansas, Louisiana, and Missouri, and for ten years I co-conducted the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Kansas City with its founding director, Jim Murray. I’m proud to have students in the MYO, the Olathe Youth Symphony, and the Youth Symphony of Kansas City.
I serve as principal violist and program annotator for the Saint Joseph Symphony, concertmaster of the Heritage Philharmonic, and violinist and violist in the Kansas City Baroque Consortium. I hold a Master of Music Degree from Louisiana State University, and my Bachelor Degree in the same area is from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance.
I’m a member of the Kansas and Missouri chapters of the American String Teachers Association (this year I served as one of the violin judges for the Missouri All-State High School Honors Orchestra) and the National Association for Music Education, as well as the Music Teachers National Association. In 2017 I was honored with the Missouri chapter of ASTA’s Studio Teacher award.
Please email me with any questions, and thanks for your interest!
Monty
Cello with Trilla
Cello lessons are offered in South Kansas City
at my home studio, just south of I-435
10413 Walrond Ave.
Kansas City, Mo. 64137
– near 435 / Hwy 71 & Redbridge Rd.
Lesson fees:
$40 per 45-minute session, and $50 per 60-minute session.
Advance payment or payment by the lesson is fine. I never charge for missed lesson appointments when students give advance notice of the absence.
A get-acquainted session is offered at no charge. It’s important to me that all my students feel ownership of their lessons and choice of instructor, and to feel personally invested in the direction of their musical study.
Kindermusik® with Trilla
Kindermusik® classes are offered through
Kindermusik at Resurrection (UM Church of the Resurrection)
13720 Roe Ave, Leawood, KS 66224
Curriculums offered for Birth through age 7
Music continues to be recognized as one of the most important opportunities for children's intellectual, physical, and social development.
Kindermusik is one of the very best music programs available for young families! Having taught this program for over 20 years and I can not recommend a better program for your young child. Classes are designed to meet the important needs and milestones of each age level from birth through age seven. Classes are offered Monday through Friday and include classes for babies and toddlers with parent or caregiver up to age three. Pre-schoolers age 3 and up learn together with their classmates and teacher for a 1/2 hour, or more depending on age, and parents join for the last 15 minutes for special activities and sharing time!
Come try a free preview and see what a magical experience it can be for you and your child!
Follow this link for more information, schedule of classes, Free Preview, and registration:
Teaching Approach
One-on-one lessons provide the most rewarding and effective learning for the student. Our lessons are a combination of technique, musicianship and solo repertoire with a focus on developing each student's love of the instrument and confidence in acquiring the skills needed to meet the challenges of their school music programs and youth orchestra program. Setting their own personal goals, finding a strong personal connection to their desire to grow as a musician is one of the most important aspects of our work together!
Professional Background
2019 Artist Teacher Award
from the American String Teachers Association - Missouri Chapter
Trilla is the founder and artistic director of the Kansas City Baroque Consortium, a widely acclaimed ensemble specializing in historically informed performance of music from the 16th to 18th centuries. Trilla has served as Adjunct Professor of Strings at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, KCK Community College, and at William Jewell College.She has served as principal cellist of the Liberty Symphony, the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City, and the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra. She has appeared with early music ensembles in St. Louis, Louisville, Springfield (MO), Pittsburg (KS) and Fort Worth. She has performed and taught throughout Europe and has participated in summer festivals in Italy, the former Yugoslavia, and Baden-Baden, Germany. Before returning to the Midwest in 1993, she worked in Los Angeles as a studio musician with numerous film and television credits. Trilla is active as a cello soloist, chamber and orchestral performer, ensemble and event contractor, studio teacher, festival clinician, and licensed Kindermusik® instructor.