Musical Legacy

Clarisse Atcherson

Violin

Ever since the symphonic orchestras were formed, beginning somewhere in the early 1600's symphonic musicians have taught students via private lessons. Nowadays, it is not uncommon, for example, to find many musicians of the New York Philharmonic also listed as members of the Julliard School's faculty. The need to pass on this learning and skill to the next generation has always been a part of a symphony musicians' life.

Oregon Symphony violinist Clarisse Atcherson teaches at the Community Music Center and also privately at home. She enjoys teaching major concertos to teenagers as well as laying a solid foundation for younger students. According to Clarisse, "I enjoy guiding students through all the stages of becoming a good violinist. If I didn't have the courage to teach a 5- or 6-year-old, I wouldn't have students like Becky Anderson."

Pictured here with Clarisse is 10-year-old Becky Anderson, who has studied with Clarisse for over four years. "I have many hard-working and talented students," comments Clarisse, "so it was difficult to choose only one to be in the cover photo. I chose Becky because she is the youngest student I have that practices two hours daily. She decided over a year ago that she wants to be a violinist and is making excellent progress. She memorizes music with ease, and often has something new memorized every week."

So what is it like to study the violin with Clarisse? Clarisse continues, "I often think I'm too easy on my students because I always held myself to a very high standard. But my students' parents assure me that I am strict and expect a lot. People think that a good violinist is somebody with a lot of talent, but they often don't realize how many years of daily, solitary practice go into building the skills."

Clarisse finds that her position with the Oregon Symphony allows her students to gain experiences not readily afforded many students. "My connection with the symphony," states Clarisse, "is an important resource for my students. When they attend concerts and see me perform, they know I 'walk the walk' so to speak. They also understand the importance of attending concerts as part of their education. There's nothing like seeing Gil Shaham or Joshua Bell play, then having my students tell me that his bow stroke was just like I keep telling them, or that the interpretation was inspiring, or what it was like to hear a priceless Stradivarius played live by one of the greatest violinists."

We, and hundreds of music students throughout Portland are truly indebted to the work that Clarisse and all the musicians of the Oregon Symphony do in teaching and passing on the musical legacy to generations to come. Clarisse sums it up like this, "I feel that teaching is an awesome responsibility and I have always been a person who takes on big challenges. After all, being a symphony violinist is not for wimps."

For information on Oregon Symphony Education and Community Programs, please call 503-228-4294 or e-mail educate@orsymphony.org.

Musician Moment Player Portrait Musical Legacy