Mateo S.

Mateo is a talented multi-instrumentalist with a passion for teaching. When he was a young child, a violinist visited his classroom to perform lullabies. Mateo was mesmerized and knew instantly that playing the violin was something he wanted to learn how to do. He started private violin lessons in 2nd grade and added guitar about two years later. He learned from a number of skilled instructors including Mac Price Junior (Dixie Chicks), Mario daSliva, and John Pell.

In the years that followed, he continued playing both instruments and became a member of his middle school orchestra. He then attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts for violin in the orchestral and symphonic programs under the tutelage of DSO violinist Sho-Mei Pelletier. It was during high school that he had his first experiences as an instructor. At his performances, people would ask if he could teach them, and it started to become clear that there was a need for something that Mateo could provide.

Although Mateo started teaching lessons while he was just a teenager, he continued to make time for performance, and he still does today. He has played in various groups, from contemporary, to jazz, to gigging frequently with his local band. Additionally, he participated in a jazz singers ensemble, which would perform often.

Several years ago, Mateo started learning how to play the bass guitar. Through his teaching and performing, he'd seen a natural need for bass players that led to him picking up the instrument. Due to the demand, Mateo has found himself learning to play a wide variety of genres and now teaches the instrument as well.

Mateo has go-tos when it comes to curriculum and lesson materials, but ultimately, his top priority is providing customized instruction that fits each of his students' needs. His approach is step-by-step and he focuses on challenging his students without ever overwhelming them. He finds that pacing is key to this, and he uses assignment logs to stay on track by encouraging practicing and regularly assessing progress.

There are many things that Mateo loves about teaching, including discovering new music from his students and getting to introduce them to new music as well. Mateo also finds that the process of teaching can bring to light new information and ideas, which keeps Mateo an active and eager student himself. However, what likely tops those is witnessing his students' success. Whether they're just starting out and want to learn a specific song or are an advanced player preparing for an audition, Mateo loves how rewarding it feels to help his students achieve their goals.