People often ask me, "What does Cavatina mean?"
“It’s a musical term, that means a beautiful melody”, I answer. “Cavatina Violin Studio – a violin studio filled with beautiful melodies.”
When I first imagined opening my own private teaching studio, I envisioned a quiet space that had large windows streaming with natural light, and walls painted in calm relaxing colours covered with beautiful art. In short, I imagined a space that inspires me as a musician and artist and reflective of how I approach teaching.
When I teach, I maintain a calm atmosphere, while simultaneously upholding a high-performance standard, by establishing a strong technical foundation.
I believe inspiration is often a catalyst for self-motivation. I seek to inspire my students by helping them develop a passion for music while guiding them to build a 'tool box' of technical, analytical, and musical skills they can use to achieve their performance goals, and providing them with a variety of performance opportunities.
And finally, I feel strongly that when foundation and inspiration unite, they result in performance artistry.
Over the years, I have worked with students of all ages and ability levels, preparing them for auditions and coaching them to play for their own personal enjoyment. No matter what the goals of my students may be - it is artistry, I hope to foster within them.
“After my first lesson with Carmen I knew I had found a respectable, wonderful and competent teacher. Carmen’s passion, positive energy and outlook on music comes through with every lesson. I have never learnt this much about music and about myself in such a short period of time. Carmen has helped me come out of my shell, and play with confidence and gusto. Words cannot express just how amazing Carmen is as a violin teacher. In just a few short months, Carmen has completely changed my perspective and experience about music from a negative to a highly positive one.”
Formal Biography
A diverse and engaging performer, Toronto-based violinist, vocalist and pedagogue Carmen Lasceski-Custers has worked in numerous settings with a repertoire that spans many genres.
She holds a masters degree in violin performance and literature from Western University (M.Mus.), where she received a graduate research scholarship, a bachelors degree in violin performance from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (B.Mus. Honours) and completed additional coursework in drama and voice at the University of Wisconsin Platteville.
Her primary teachers include violin - Jaime Weisenblum, Annette-Barbara Vogel and Klara Fenyö Bahcall; voice - Barbara Burdick (musical theatre), Ron Shetler (musical theatre), Rebekah Demaree (classical), and Sacha Williamson (jazz); and drama - Mike O’Brien, John McCaslin-Doyle and Bob Luke. She has taken additional pedagogy lessons with violinist Melvin Martin.
Throughout her career, she has worked in many facets of the performing arts, including as a chamber and orchestral musician, soloist (violin and voice), actress, choreographer, dance teacher, choral singer, and choral conductor.
Her passion for exploring various genres and artistic mediums has led her to create several unique performance projects.
She arranged, recorded and released three singles for voice and piano, producing corresponding performance videos and visual campaigns to accompany each release. Her single, The Christmas Song, premiered on Big Breakfast Show with Colin on Australia’s 4CRM 107.5FM Community Radio Mackay. She has received positive audience reviews for her crafted concert programs featuring classical violin, jazz vocals and poetry.
A skilled and dedicated teacher, Carmen has developed a formidable reputation as a violin pedagogue working with students across Canada and internationally throughout the U.S., China and Saudi Arabia.
She is a Certified Advanced Specialist (violin) with the Royal Conservatory of Music and a member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association (violin) and American String Teachers Association. She has taught at music schools throughout the U.S. and Canada, worked as a graduate teaching assistant and summer festival clinician, adjudicated for music festivals and competitions, given orchestral workshops in both primary and secondary school settings, presented university masterclasses and had four of her pedagogical articles published.
Her students have been accepted into performing arts high schools around Toronto, including Claude Watson School for the Arts and Rosedale Heights School of the Arts. They have held principal section lead and concertmaster positions with Santa Monica High School Orchestras (Samohi), University of Toronto Schools and Moordale Youth Orchestras. They frequently receive high marks (First Class Honours and above) on Royal Conservatory of Music exams and place well at regional and international festivals and competitions.
Carmen has worked with students of all ages and ability levels throughout her teaching career. Her finely honed teaching skills allow her to guide her students to realize their fullest potential in whatever their goals may be.
For further information, please visit, carmenlasceski.com
