Every month, we like to spotlight one of our incredible Elemental Music teachers. Some of them have been teaching with us for close to a decade while others might be in their first year of working for our organization, but there is one thing that all of our teachers have in common: their dedication to the young musicians in our programs.
This month, we are featuring Cicely Nelson, who coaches violins for our Elemental Strings Chamber Orchestra coach and teaches violin and viola through our Bergmann Project. Learn more about Cicely, her passion for music education, her background in dance, and more in our interview below!
Elemental Music: How long have you been teaching for Elemental Music?
Cicely Nelson: I’ve been teaching with Elemental since September 2019.
EM: How did you get started in music?
CN: I actually started dancing before I started playing violin, so movement was my introduction to music.
EM: Can you tell us a little bit about your background in movement and the way that your movement practice informs your musical practice?
CN: As I mentioned, I did movement classes as a child before I played an instrument and I actually went on to study ballet pre-professionally, and then had a brief career in ballet in my early 20s. Movement is an interesting inroad to music. Sensing and feeling instead of analyzing is a useful skill set, and very different to how most of us are taught both in traditional music education and in education in general. Similar to music, dancing is very process-oriented, so that helped me when I turned to taking violin more seriously in college.
EM: Why is it important to you to not only perform music but to be a music educator?
CN: I believe fervently in access to arts education for all, both because equity is a cornerstone of my personal value system but also because music is a discipline that teaches more than almost any other: it teaches empathy, sensitivity, teamwork, math, science, history, art, critical thinking, delayed gratification, I could go on and on! And of course I’m sure you’ve all heard of all the studies about how playing musical instruments builds children’s confidence, test scores, college readiness, etc.
EM: What is one of your proudest moments as a teacher?
CN: So many small victories! My proudest moments are when students don’t even realize how quickly they’ve turned something around. They just go from not being able to do something to being able to do it – and they don’t realize it because they’ve been so diligent about the tiny steps between A and Z. In these moments, I’m proud of them not only as musicians, but also as committed learners - I think some would call this grit. Such an important skill!
EM: What is one of your favorite musical memories?
CN: I really miss playing in orchestra myself! Before the pandemic, I played the Rite of Spring with an orchestra in Vancouver, British Columbia. I think it was the most electrifying experience of my life.
EM: How does it feel to be back in person rehearsing with Elemental Strings again? Have there been any special moments yet?
CN: I feel a little bit sentimental about this. Playing with other people has always been my favorite part about being a musician. There is something indescribable about being carried along in the sound you create with other people. Seeing some of these children experience that for the very first time - it’s like a video I once saw of an infant hearing for the first time...watching their universes expand in real time.
EM: If you could give our students one piece of advice, musical or otherwise, what would it be?
CN: Only you are the one who can decide what you can and can’t do. There is a lot of gatekeeping in classical music – and everywhere! Never let that get you down. And also be the one who opens the gate for other people.
Cicely demonstrates how Pilates can help violin posture!
EM: Is there anything else you'd like to add, that you think might be interesting for our community?
CN: I run a small Pilates studio! After dancing professionally, it was always a nice way to stay grounded in a regular movement practice. It helps my violin playing immensely and I really appreciate being able to teach musical and movement modalities. As mentioned, they inform each other so much!