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 Susan Rishik. Susan is an amazing violinist who is a longtime member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, a longtime Elemental Music coach, and an alumni parent! It was so fun to hear Susan’s perspective on our programs and music, as both a parent who had kids go through our programs as well as someone who has taught so many Elemental musicians over the years. We hope you enjoy getting to know a little more about Susan, her background, and why she does what she does!
Elemental Music: How long have you been teaching for Elemental Music? Can you tell us a little bit about your history with the organization?
Susan Rishik: I started as a teaching artist for Elemental Strings in 2012 (the organization only had string programs at that point). I coached a violin section and got them ready for their small ensemble pieces, and also helped out in full rehearsal. I stayed with that program until 2018. In 2016 I started with the Bergmann Program/Encore teaching private lessons, and for the last couple of years have been coaching chamber music for Elemental’s Chamber Music Institute.
EM: How did you get started in music?
SR: My father is a violinist and music teacher who was deeply influenced by Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy and method. He felt music instruction was an important part of child development, and so he taught all of his children (7 in all, including his step children!) to play the violin. We all got Suzuki lessons from him starting around age 5, and later joined Suzuki groups. We were fortunate, because the schools we attended at the time had very little to offer young musicians – certainly nothing close to a program like Elemental Music. Eventually, most of my siblings “graduated” to other instruments, but I stuck with the violin, as did one of my step brothers. Even though he is not a professional musician, he is an avid amateur in his local community orchestra.
EM: You are a professional violinist and a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. What inspires you to teach in addition to maintaining a busy performance career?
SR: As a young student musician, the knowledge and education gained from private teachers, coaches and conductors was so valuable to me. I feel it’s important for a young musician to have a “village” of these mentors, teachers and influences to learn from, even if they don’t continue to a professional career. So teaching and coaching is a way of being a part of that village, and ensuring that the cycle continues.
EM: What is one of your favorite musical memories?
SR: One vivid memory I have of an experience that really influenced my desire to be a musician is of my participation in the All-State orchestra when I was 17 years old. Coincidentally, it happened at Samohi at Barnum Hall! We were playing Shostakovich Symphony No. 5. I didn’t know the piece, and practicing my part alone was confusing because it didn’t make a lot of sense to me. When we got to the first rehearsal and I heard it with the whole orchestra, with the amazing wind and percussion parts, I was just blown away! I had never heard anything like it, and it was so thrilling to be part of it, I knew this was what I wanted to do.
EM: If you could give our students one piece of advice, musical or otherwise, what would it be?
SR: Practice frequently (almost every day) for shorter periods, rather than infrequently for longer periods, even if it’s the same amount of time. And, as Itzhak Perlman always says, practice slooowly!
EM: Your children went through our programs, although neither are pursuing careers as musicians. Why do you think music education is valuable for students, regardless of whether they grow up to become professional musicians?
SR: That’s right, they are pursuing completely different fields. They are both doing really well, and I am convinced that part of the reason is the discipline they gained in studying and practicing an instrument, and the experience of working with others in small and large ensembles. They also love classical music and go to concerts often. My daughter has many classical pieces interspersed with all types of music on her Spotify playlist, and my son has his car radio permanently affixed to the classical radio station where he lives. I think this helps to make them well-rounded human beings.
EM: Is there anything else you'd like to add, that you think might be interesting for our community?
SR: Like the Ancient Greeks, I think that an education in music is equally important as one in math, history, science and literature. I feel grateful to have an organization like Elemental Music to help support that ideal.