Professional Violin & Viola Teacher | All Ages & Levels | Auditions, Orchestra & Competitions | beginners to advanced

Find out more about Shiyoung

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  I was raised in a classical music family in Korea, where rehearsals were part of daily life and music was spoken as fluently as language itself. What began as environment slowly became identity.
  At twenty, I moved to the United States to pursue my studies. That transition transformed music from tradition into purpose. My instrument became my voice, my stability, and my bridge between cultures. Since then, it has not simply been something I play—it has been something I live.

• Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  JS Bach is my lifelong companion. His structure brings clarity; his emotion brings comfort.
  But as a mother and teacher, I also find beauty in simplicity—gentle acoustic music, even children’s melodies. Living with a toddler has taught me that repetition is not monotony—it is mastery. The same is true in music education.

• Explain the most riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  The most transformative course I offer is centered on one idea:
  Technique builds skill.
  In my studio, students do not simply learn notes. They learn how to shape phrases, communicate emotion, and perform with confidence. I guide them to understand the “why” behind the music—not just the “how.”
  Especially with children, I focus on nurturing curiosity and confidence early. When a child learns that their sound matters, their growth accelerates naturally.
  
  And also, I believe the music theory is a frame of playing classical music. You can’t build up the house without the frame. All students in my studio, they need to have a strong, basic music theory at the beginning of the lesson even it takes a lot of time sometimes. Because I think it’s really mandatory.

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  Beyond technical difficulty, I believe the most challenging instrument to master is the mind.
  Young musicians often struggle not with notes, but with confidence, focus, and self-belief. Mastery comes when discipline and emotional resilience develop together. My role as a teacher is to guide both.

• What are your keys to success?

  Consistency over perfection and
  patience with the process. Believe my strength and keep trying new ways even you never try before.

• Three musicians you dream of meeting in your favorite bar in the early hours of the morning.

  Johann Sebastian Bach – to ask how he balanced family and genius.
  David Oistrach – Favorite violinist. Always admire his sound and bow technique.
  Claude Debussy – for his ability to paint with sound.
  Each represents discipline, humanity, and imagination—the pillars of my own musical philosophy.

• A valuable anecdote from your music school days

  In my first semester in the U.S., I froze during a performance. I felt embarrassed and defeated.
  That moment reshaped my teaching. I do not protect students from difficulty—I prepare them to grow through it.

• What makes you a Superprof in music?

  What sets me apart is not only training or experience—it is heart.
  I specialize in teaching children with patience and joy.
  I break down complex concepts into age-appropriate language.
  I use imagery, storytelling, and creative analogies that make learning engaging.
  I balance discipline with warmth.
  I understand parents, because I am one.
  I genuinely love teaching children. Watching their eyes light up when they master a new passage, seeing confidence grow week by week—that is why I teach.
  Music education, to me, is not about producing perfect performances. It is about shaping confident, expressive, resilient young humans.
  And that is the kind of teacher I strive to be every day.