Rachelle Puccini
Violinist Rachelle Elizabeth Puccini is an active soloist, clinician and Eastman Artist. She has played with orchestras, and in venues throughout the country and abroad. A sought after clinician, her pedagogical ideas have been presented internationally, most notably at TMEA, Midwest, ILMEC, ECMEA, ACOSA in Philadelphia, WI-ASTA, private masterclasses in the Dominican Republic and OMEA in Ontario, Canada. In the Fall of 2020, an article she wrote, “Beyond the Shoulder Rest,” based on her clinic by the same title, was featured in the publication “The Scroll.” She is frequently invited as a guest artist and clinician at schools and universities. As a soloist and recitalist Ms. Puccini frequently collaborates with pianist Paul Hamilton. Together they have recorded Kreisler’s Liebesfreud and Libeslied, and the work Fratres by Arvo Part. They have also collaborated in film, creating a film using the audio for the work Fratres, which was released in the summer of 2020. Orchestrally, she frequently plays with the Grand Rapids Symphony, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Nacional in the Dominican Republic. Past highlights have been joining the Munich Symphony on a five week tour throughout the USA in 2011, playing Carnegie Hall with the Oistrakh Symphony in 2018 and 2019, and featured as soloist and concertmaster for the Whiting Park Symphony Orchestra in 2017. As an Eastman artist, she teaches and performs all her educational engagements on an Emiliani Eastman violin. In Chicago, she has built a successful violin studio, and is currently on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago. Ms. Puccini holds a Masters degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University where she studied with Gerardo Ribeiro, and a Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from Grand Valley State University where she studied with international soloist, violinist Dylana Jenson. She has also studied with violinist and pedagog Olga Kaler. Ms. Puccini concertizes on a 2015 Samuel Zygmuntowicz violin made especially for her. In her spare time Rachelle enjoys painting, running, and the occasional triathlon.
New Film:
“Fratres” for violin and piano, a film by Paul Hamilton.
"Have you ever felt trapped in a recurring dream that unfolds over nights, weeks….even months?
This is a vision of these unfinished stories: episodes of liquidity framed with a tenuous grip on reality.
Featuring Rachelle Puccini as subject and violinist, and Paul Hamilton on piano. Filmed around Chicago land and recorded in Nichols Hall in Evanston, IL. WATCH NOW
Interview with “Inside the OSC”
Discussion on the upcoming film, and what it’s like to be a soloist.
Article: Beyond the Shoulder Rest, Accurately Assessing and Setting Up Your Violin and Viola Students.
Published in the Fall of 2020 in the ASTA publication The Scroll.
News & Updates
Instagram Feed
Clinician
A passionate educator, Ms. Puccini has a strong commitment to teaching the next generation of violinists and string players. She has built a successful violin studio in Chicago, as well as having served as a violin teacher at the Grandville Avenue Academy for the Arts in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a not for profit organization dedicated to providing free after school art programs to underexposed students in the area. She was involved in a similar program in Chicago in 2007-2009 titled Magic, in the city’s Woodlawn neighborhood. From 2006-2008 Ms. Puccini was on faculty at the Northwestern String Academy, and is currently on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago.
Ms. Puccini often gives clinics and masterclasses all over the country and abroad. This past season featured clinics, masterclasses and recitals for Eastman strings (for whom she is an Eastman artist,) as well as masterclasses and concerts in Santo Domingo, DR for the program Fiesta Clasica, as a part of her residency with Concertos de la Villa.
Clinics offered:
“Beyond the shoulder rest: accurately assessing and setting up your violin/viola students.”
Discover different methods for optimal violin and viola set up, and how to identify what works best for each individual student. We will be focusing on the physics of great tone while making sure the body is properly aligned and relaxed to avoid tension. Feel free to bring your violin or viola for a “hands on” approach. Appropriate for teaching all grade levels beginning through high school.
“How to teach vibrato to your upper strings.”
In this clinic we will go over methods for teaching vibrato on the violin and viola. We will explore the three types of vibrato and exercises for improving each one. This clinic is perfect for teaching beginning vibrato, but also for developing and refining existing vibrato.
“Shifting essentials.”
A tactile approach to finding key areas on the violin and viola. This clinic will focus on how to teach shifting so the student is able to reliably find their way into higher positions and therefore be more in tune in upper positions.
“Advanced bow strokes: from detache to off the string and everything in between.”
A guided tour of advanced bow strokes and how to introduce and develop each one to your upper string sections. Strong emphasis on creating a relaxed and functioning spiccato. Increase the repertoire range for your orchestra.
“Bow hold success: bent thumbs and relaxed pinkies.”
A step by step guide to building a students bow hold from the ground up. Great for the setting up the beginning stages of upper string playing or refreshing a more experienced group to ensure their bow holds are ready for advanced bow techniques.
“Buying a stringed instrument…”
In this clinic we address how to assess the personal needs of your student or customer, how to adeptly evaluate the qualities of the instruments being presented and how to get the right instrument in the hand of the player in any price range. An excellent clinic for shops looking to help their customers further or just need a brush up on string players’ needs.
String clinician residency
This package is a residency at your school. Option to include a solo performance with your orchestra.
One to five days (depending on your needs) in the classroom conducting strings workshop and rehearsal with your students. Topics and repertoire covered will be worked out in collaboration with the orchestra director.
I am very happy to work with you and your program to create a clinic or residency that best suits the individual needs of your program. Clinic topics are not limited to those offered above.
Fee determined by how many days and performances given. One day clinics start at $350, reduced per day given for multiple days/sessions. Financial assistance may be available in your area.
For booking inquires:
violin lessons
With over 20 years experience teaching violin, Ms. Rachelle has lead students from their first moments on the violin all the way through the doors of some of the best colleges and universities. She teaches all ages and abilities and is comfortable teaching in person or online.
““The study of music is so important for nurturing the person as a whole. Music teaches focus, discipline, communication, and resilience. Through music we can develop a deep connection and empathy for others.” ”
Ms. Rachelle’s patient and adaptive approach to teaching the violin allows her to work well with any student. Highly empathetic, her intuitive teaching style is a perfect balance of challenge and rest.
Let’s Start the conversation
SEND ME AN EMAIL.
30 min Private Violin Lessons
$40.00
One on one 30 min private violin lesson with the teacher. This is an ideal length of time for the beginning student or young person. Lessons will be at a mutually agreed upon day and time each week following the school year calendar. Online or in person.
Quantity:
45 min Private Violin Lesson
$60.00
One on one 45 min private violin lesson with the teacher. This is an ideal length of time for the intermediate student. Lessons will be at a mutually agreed upon day and time each week following the school year calendar. Online or in person.
Quantity:
60 min Private Violin Lesson
$80.00
One on one 60 min private violin lesson with the teacher. This is an ideal length of time for the advanced student or older student/adult. Lessons will be at a mutually agreed upon day and time each week following the school year calendar. Online or in person.
Quantity:
Beginning Violin 6 week package
$165.00
A chance to see if the violin is right for you or your child. This is a beginning violin lesson package for 3-6 year olds. Class meets once a week for 6 weeks, at a mutually agreeable time. Online or in person. 20 min each lesson -ideal for those early learners. During the session the students will learn the fundamentals of violin playing, and develop skills such as listening, focus, pitch, and rhythm. This class is a wonderful introduction to music in general, and a chance to try out the violin. A parent or guardian must be present at the lessons.
Quantity:
String Clinician Session (One on one)
$80.00
This session is for the music educator or musician who is seeking a one on one session. Topics available, but not limited to: Vibrato technique and teaching methods, Shifting technique and teaching methods, How to hold the instrument - set up, Advanced bow strokes, Beginning bow hold and teaching methods, String classroom motivation. String pedagogy, and String playing for non string players. 60 min session.
Quantity:
Dario Acosta photography Darioacosta.com
Eastman Strings Eastmanstring.com
Music Institute of Chicago Musicinst.com
Music @ MONTICELLO Concert Series
Trio PUCCINI