Calvin Murasaki Resume

      A native of Hawaii, Calvin has taught violin and string classes for over 30 years on the East and West Coasts of the U.S. He served on the faculties of North Carolina School of the Arts, the Forsyth County Public School String Program, and Salem College; Winston-Salem, NC in the mid 70's. Calvin also assisted Paul Rolland in his String Pedagogy workshops throughout North Carolina and Atlanta, GA. He moved out west to San Francisco in the 80's where he worked with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki and began a private studio using Rolland and Suzuki approaches to string playing. Calvin also was conductor and String Education Specialist of the Golden Gate Orchestras, Inc. and a founding member of the San Francsico Chamber Players. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Suzuki Association of Northern California.

Graduating with a Masters Degree at Univeristy of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Calvin studied String Pedagogy with Paul Rolland known for his unique approach to string playing through freedom of motion. At the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Calvin also worked together with Dr. Marla Mutschler who co-authored The Teaching of Action in String Playing by Rolland. In California Calvin also studied violin with Roy Malan former Galamian student, jazz & fiddle with Darol Anger, David Balakrishnan, Julian Smedley of the Hot Club of San Francisco, Jamey Aebersold, and David Baker. Calvin is a performing member of the Callisto String Quartet, Oriente Salsa Band, Pearl River String Band, Blue Ambience Jazz Quartet, and Left Coast Special Cajun Band.

Calvin continues to teach and guide not only violinists but other string players with "Freedom of Motion" required to avoid physical tension and pain. Calvin has helped many professional violinists and fiddlers avoid chronic injury through proper alignment. Working with students from third-trimester prenatal age to 78 years old continues to be a joy in Calvin's life. Many of his students have attended Julliard, Oberlin, Boston Conservatory, etc. and others are playing in community orchestras across the country. Calvin works with compassion, understanding, and support.

Updated:  May 30, 2008

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