Jacob Murphy

Violin

Profile Picture

Locations

  • Remote Lessons
  • Chicago, IL
  • Midwest Young Artists

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Qualifications

  • BM, Eastman School of Music
  • MM, Kent State University
  • Faculty, Indiana University South Bend (2007 - 2016)
  • Euclid Quartet (1998 - 2016)

Rate

$50/hr

Background & Experience

I established my career as a founding member and second violinist for 18 years of the Euclid Quartet. As part of this ensemble I performed throughout the country, everywhere from school classrooms to Carnegie Hall. Prizes include significant recognition as a member of the first American string quartet to be awarded a top prize at the prestigious Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, and an “American Masterpieces” grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. With my quartet, I recorded Bartok’s complete string quartets.

I'm a devoted teacher and chamber music coach, and served on the music faculty at Indiana University South Bend for nine years. As a teaching artist, I've performed for thousands of students, in part through collaborations with Carnegie Hall and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association. I hold a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, where I studied with Charles Castleman; and a Master of Music degree from Kent State University, where he studied with Gregory Fulkerson. I was also a String Quartet Fellowship student at the Aspen Music Festival, and studied with the Emerson String Quartet at the Carnegie Hall Professional Training Workshop.

MY TEACHING: My students describe me as kind, but with very high standards. Because they know I’m at their side, we can set high expectations and then work toward them together. Honest and direct feedback (about the good and the bad) is an essential part of this. A teacher who isn't clear about things that aren't going well is not being kind to their student.

I base my violin teaching on developing the inner musical instincts of each one of my students. Technique is essential, and I devote a lot of time to developing it in my students, but it always needs to serve the expressive demands of the music. The best technique is efficient
and relaxed, based on an understanding of the natural motions of the body. This always gets the best results.

But without solid practice habits, everything else is meaningless. So an important part of my job is to make sure my students have clear practice techniques, goals, and strategies to make the best possible progress.