Melody Chang Violin Instructor

Melody Chang is the Principal Second Violin of the Reno Philharmonic. She was awarded first prize at the 2013 Hong Kong International Violin Competition and is currently teaching at Biola University. She holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and University of Southern California. A native of Southern California, violinist Melody Chang has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States, Austria, France, the Czech Republic, and Hong Kong, where she was awarded First Prize at the 2013 Third Hong Kong International Violin Competition. She has collaborated with Roberto Diaz, Timothy Pitts, UK Band "Bastille", has appeared on the USA network TV Show "The Moment", CBS’s show “The Bold and the Beautiful”, and alongside Elton John in his concert "Elton John Goes Back to School”. Passionate about chamber music, Chang was a member of the Hausmann Quartet in residence at the San Diego State University and is currently a Guest Artist Violin Instructor at the Biola University. She also holds the Principal Second Violin position in the Reno Philharmonic and subs regularly with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Pasadena Symphony. Chang is a proud recipient of the Jascha Heifetz Society Scholarship, The Eudice Shapiro Violin Scholarship, and the Titi Najera de Mason Memorial Endowed Music Scholarship. Her influences stem from playing for a vast array of world-renown violinists including Ivry Gitlis, Joseph Silverstien, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Cho Liang Lin, Sherry Kloss, Pierre Amoyal, Guillaume Sutre, Kikuei Ikeda, Peter Marsh, Peter Salaff and Dr. Eugene Gratovich. She holds a BM from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a MM from the University of Southern California. Her primary teachers have included Suli Xue, Stephen Rose, Linda Cerone, Diana Chang and the late Maestro Ruggiero Ricci (she appeared in the documentary “Life is a Violin" featuring Maestro Ricci and Ivry Gitlis). An active educator herself, she has been a violin instructor at USC and now teaches from her studio home in Alhambra. ------------------ I am an active performer and teach privately on top of my commitments at the Reno Philharmonic and Biola University. My teaching methods is always a balance between honest encouragement and strict discipline. My ultimate goal as a teacher is to show my students the satisfaction and fun that they could have in learning a difficult instrument like the violin. I love teaching the violin! I believe I inherited the love for teaching from my mother, who is also a violin teacher. It is extremely satisfying for me to see my students not only grow in their techniques, but also find their own voice within the instrument. For my little ones, I hope to carry them through high school. I hope to help develop an all rounded understanding of music from different styles and cultures that will last them a lifetime. For my adult students, I work to create a de-stressing atmosphere... where our music takes on a meditative role in our lives. There can be a sense of peace and comfort in a regular practice and lesson schedule. I hope that whatever time we spend together has a lasting impression. Please don't hesitate to connect and ask questions. I believe everyone can access their musical expression with a little patience and time.