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Amy Pikler
Amy is originally from Glencoe, Illinois where she started playing violin at five, recorder at eight, and viola at ten. Currently, Amy serves as section violist of the San Antonio Philharmonic and was a violist in the San Antonio Symphony between February 2016 and June 2022. She has performed with the Utah Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, and Austin Symphony. Additionally, Amy teaches private violin and viola students of all ages and levels and just launched a new online program to help violinists and violists improve their playing technique. She received her BM in viola performance degree with highest honors from the University of Michigan under the tutelage of Professor Yizhak Schotten. As part of the San Antonio Symphony’s Community Outreach and Engagement Program, Amy coached sectionals at Lanier High School, taught a master class at John Jay High School, and demonstrated her instruments for students at area San Antonio schools.
Resume (PDF)
Artist Statement of Work
Tell us about your work (style, approach, philosophy, subject and/or theme):
I believe that anybody regardless of musical ability and talent is capable of learning how to play a musical instrument at any age. I tailor my teaching style to meet the needs and goals of the student with whom I work. Additionally, I am committed to the success of my students towards their goals. I can teach beginning students using any method but am most familiar with the Suzuki and Essential Elements books. I teach beginning students good playing position with both the right and left hands and give them exercises in which to practice position. For example, for a beginning violin or viola student, I demonstrate how to hold the bow with a pencil and will ensure that they master a bow hold using a pencil before actually holding the bow. Intermediate and advanced violin and viola students will often tell me what music they are working on, and I will give them fingerings and help them with concepts such as intonation, rhythm, bow distribution, and good sound. I reinforce good playing position and encourage them to practice using the metronome. I encourage all of my students to practice scales in order to help their intonation. I help recorder students by teaching them how to cover each hole correctly, give them breathing exercises, and demonstrate how much and what type of air is needed to make a good sound on each note, especially the low notes. I teach both in person and online via Google Meets.
