Gonca Huff

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About Me

Gonca is a native of Ankara, Turkey. She began her music studies on several instruments at age 10, concentrating on piano. At age eleven, She was selected to join the Ankara State Conservatory of Music. From this point on she dedicated her life to the cello and piano. Studying and practicing 6 to 8 hours a day, cello and music was her life. From there, She received her bachelors degree in cello performance from Hacettepe University, parent of the Ankara State Conservatory. Right after college, she relocated to Adana to assume the principal cellist role with the Cukurova Symphony at age 21. During her eight years in Adana, she taught cello at Adana State Conservatory, started the New Adana Chamber Quartet, and performed with many other ensembles and chamber groups. In addition to her teaching and performing with various orchestras and chamber ensembles, Ms. Huff was also a active soloist with performances throughout the region. During her years in Adana, she also wrote the music news column for the area gazette. She was selected as one of the Turkey's Junior Chamber International Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Cultural Achievement.

My Musical Education Background

Gonca came to the US after she was awarded a graduate scholarship to work toward a masters degree in cello performance at Western Michigan University. She studied cello with Professor Bruce Uchimura and Irene Sharp of Palo Alto CA.. She also studied the Suzuki cello teaching method with Grace Field and Rick Mooney. While pursuing her studies, she remained active performing with various chamber groups and orchestras. Her primary teacher in Turkey was Ali Dogan ( a disciple of Andre Navarra and Pierre Fournier and their French sytles). She also studied with Andre Navarra himself and other famous cellists, including Roman Jablonski. She perfected her techniques in the French and European traditions in these formative years. In America, she studied American techniques and methods with Irene Sharp, Rick Mooney, and Carlton McCreery. She also learned teaching with the Suzuki method. She has certificates for Cello books 1-5. She is especially interested in teaching children and has studied Music Together and Brain Gym courses aimed at early childhood education. She has 2 Cello CDs available.

Genres and Subjects Taught

Beginning Piano Lessons Gonca is also a fine pianist and teaches beginning piano lessons in her studio in Carrollwood. Music education in a couple of instruments strengthens the students knowledge and understanding of music. She highly recommends at least basic proficiency in at least two instruments. Cello Lessons Gonca teaches cello in Carrollwood at her studio. She teaches both Suzuki and traditional methods and is certified Level 5 with Suzuki. She also teaches master classes to advanced students wishing to pursue a music career or audition for college entrance and scholarships. Music Theory and Music Appreciation Classes Music Theory 1. The basic language of music terminology, pitch notation,rhythm notation 2. Drawing skills clefs,notes,rests, other written music skills 3. Note names name all notes on the treble clef staff name all notes on the bass clef staff 4. Chromatics sharp, flat, and natural signs chromatic scales 5. Melody direction, range, position, intervals 6. Elementary rhythms rhythmic names of notes elementary rhythms elementary rhythmic dictation 7. Major scales scales with whole and half steps introduction to key signature Music Appreciation The Elements of Music The Instruments of the Orchestra Musical Style Periods Elements of Music as used in the various Style Periods Musical Forms of the Style Periods Jazz and World Music

Lesson Rates

30 minutes lesson $113 per month for four lessons 45 minutes lesson $150 per month for four lessons One hour individual lessons $72 per lesson

Ages / Skill Levels Taught

6-75 years old. Piano - Beginners and Intermediate only Cello - All Levels

My Certifications and Awards

CERTIFICATIONS AND MUSIC STUDIES Music Together Certification (2013) Brain Gym 101 Apprenticeship Certification (2004) Suzuki Certifications & Apprenticeships, Kalamazoo MI (Book 1, 2002) / Chicago, IL (Book 2 & 3, 2002) Stevens Point, WI (Book 4, 2002) / Snowmass Village, CO (Book 5, 2003) Irene Sharp Cello Master Course, Palo Alto CA (2004) Rick Mooney National Cello Institute Teacher Observation, LaVerne CA (2004, 2005) Andre Navarra Cello Master Course, Sermonetta, Italy (1988) HONORS/AWARDS Recipient of One of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Program of Cultural Achievement (1997) Jaycees, Istanbul, Turkey

My Musical Influences

Philosophy of Music Education During my more than 20 years teaching music, I have learned much from my students about how to be a better teacher. Passion is my key when teaching music. I am sure I would not be my present stage with music without passion. My goal as teacher is to make my students as passionate about music as I am. Even students who do not learn easily and who are not gifted athletically can understand that they have a talent inside them to learn music with love and passion. I strive to help my students appreciate music, its importance in their life, and help them to connect with themselves to discover who they are as humans with emotion and interactions. Music education is necessary for all students to be able to express and discover their own emotions as well as life skills such as self-discipline, responsibility, patience, teamwork and listening skills. Moreover, students in music classes learn an internal support system based on setting and meeting goals and targets which they use as a guide to successes throughout their lives. Music programs in school are essential to help students develop skills such as time management, communication, patience, and perseverance. For many students, these skills are developed through music in ways that sitting in a classroom all day never could. I believe everyone has enough talent to learn music without exception. Music is the universal language. Even students with disability or lack of English language skills can be taught the fundamentals of music and its expression. Since not all students are coming to music with an open mindset, the teachers’ job is to connect with them and make them interested in music. It is important that the teacher motivates his or her students to make them want to practice regularly and improve their skills at each step they make. Success gained step by step at music skills builds the student’s sense of self-worth based on real accomplishment. Teachers should have a wide knowledge of performance, practice, history, theory and good communication and organizational skills. The teacher also needs to understand that students learn differently. Some students learn better aurally, some visually and some kinesthetically. Most important is that music be taught with passion, love and compassion. This makes your students to wonder why and have more interest in the subject. Lastly, I believe that teaching music, working with students at different levels, sharing my passion, and love of music makes my job priceless.

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