Melissa Solomon Cello Studio

"Melissa Solomon was my daughter's cello teacher for eight years until she moved from Los Angeles ,CA to Austin, TX. During that time I have observed my daughter's growth as a musician and cellist as well as many of Melissa's other students. Melissa is an exceptional cellist and a brilliantly talented teacher. She brings out the best in all her students of any level from beginning to advanced. She has helped her students, including my daughter, to win awards, scholarships and entrances into fine performing art schools and conservatories, and through music she has nurtured the growth and maturity of many young people. Melissa intuitively knows exactly what each student needs to progress technically as well as artistically, and she accomplishes this with such great joy and enthusiasm that it is positively contagious. Over the years I have also had the opportunity to observe other cello teachers at various workshops and summer programs, and I can attest that there are very few her equal. Any parent or student looking for a cello teacher will find the absolute best and so much more with Melissa Solomon."

"Not only was Melissa Solomon an incredible cello instructor to me, she has continued to be a mentor and friend as well. Though it has been five years since I last had a lesson with Melissa in Los Angeles, she has continued to offer guidance and lessons over video chat in times when I felt my primary instruction, especially in college, was sometimes lacking. The eight years of instruction I received from Melissa provided the best technical foundation I could have asked for, and her musicality and enthusiasm for education has inspired in me a love for music that will never leave. Melissa encouraged a personal exploration of musicality, and her guidance remains an important voice in my performance today. It is because of Melissa’s influence that I was awarded the top musical honor from my college. Any student would be lucky to receive the wisdom and mentorship of Melissa Solomon."

"Imagine a hawk soaring over a mountain range; what do you think that would look like? The child imagines the flight of a bird harnessing the power of the wind to search for its prey miles below. He is completely engaged and becomes part of the scene. After a time, Melissa brings him back to the phrasing of the new piece. Now he tackles it from a new dimension and with the pleasure of storytelling. Melissa draws her students into the learning process by relating to their world. The depth and breadth of her musical background are the foundations for her skills in teaching one technique after another. She brings to her teaching a level of detail that fosters her students’ talents; her students inevitably turn heads in the musical communities they have joined. Melissa has fostered group playing for years. This has led not only to a rich social experience, as her students come from varied backgrounds, but has also afforded them the challenges of learning how to work with others in a group setting. Both my children have been Melissa’s students over the last 9 Years. Not only have they gained confidence in themselves as they have observed their ability to overcome obstacles and master difficult works, they have had the unparalleled experience of learning how to learn—in a supportive and caring environment. Both our son and daughter have chosen to play in their school orchestras, a community orchestra, and our daughter joined together with her high school classmates to play in a band. And it’s on Melissa that my son hops in the car and switches the radio station from the news to classical radio! This year, our daughter started college at UC Berkeley. She took her cello and still keeps in touch with Melissa. I’m betting she, and we as a family, always will."

"Melissa Solomon has taught cello to both of my children. She is dedicated and brilliant as an instructor. Her Austin Cello Choir is inspiring and all the students look forward to Thursday nights when they get to play together. I highly recommend Melissa Solomon to anyone looking for one of the best Suzuki Cello Teachers in the Greater Austin Texas area."