Jason Anick

"There are a lot of basic elements of music that I want students to be able to translate to their instrument, no matter what style they end up playing. Learning scales, arpeggios, and good technique will help you tackle any style, but understanding them will also provide more dynamic means of musical expression."

"I started off playing classical violin, but early on I was inspired by improvisation. I loved the idea of creating a song or solo that's completely organic, but quickly realized that I needed to have the technical facility to execute my ideas. I knew I had to study and take that part seriously."

"I gravitated towards jazz, and my first jazz influence was Charlie Parker—a saxophone player. I know that people don't always think of the violin in a jazz setting, but that excited me. I could be a violin player in this setting and it would be a unique and special thing."

"When I teach students jazz I always encourage them to learn from other musicians in their ensembles, or give them suggestions for records to listen to and solos to transcribe, or encourage them to play with different instruments. That's how I learned. That's what worked for me. I try not to overwhelm them with harmonic concepts at first but instead help them build a solid foundation and understanding of what the music is all about."