Profile - Jason Vanselow

Instructor Profile

Meet Jason Vanselow
Instructor of Music

Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of St. Thomas; Master of Music (MM), Cleveland Institute of Music; Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), University of Minnesota

Question and Answer

  • Question

    Would you list some recent accomplishments?

    Answer

    Current Editor of the Guitar Education Column in "String Notes," a publication for The Minnesota String Teachers Association

  • Question

    What is your approach to teaching?

    Answer

    I believe that teaching is about relating to other people as well as conveying information. In my teaching I strive to understand where students are at and make the class's content as relevant and as useful as I can.

  • Question

    What inspires you as a teacher?

    Answer

    As a musician, I'm inspired by both the music that I grew up hearing and hearing students progress and master the music that they play. It's really fulfilling to listen to a student at the different points in their journey.

  • Question

    How would you describe what happens during one of your most successful classes?

    Answer

    In those classes, there's a mix of questions, practical examples and demonstrations, and a feeling at the end like we, as a group, worked something out.

  • Question

    What makes your curriculum interesting or valuable to students?

    Answer

    The issues that we work on in my classes are ones that students will find in their careers as musicians, as well as their lives outside of their career.

  • Question

    What are some ways that you help students succeed when they need extra help?

    Answer

    I enjoy sitting down one-on-one with students and hashing out what they're struggling with. Most of the time we can figure out a good way for them to approach whatever the issue is.

  • Question

    How do you help your students get the most out of your class?

    Answer

    It's important for me to keep students engaged and interacting with the class material. I work to make sure that every student makes a contribution of some sort in each class so that they are involved with the material in a meaningful way.

Fun Facts

  • Fun Fact #1

    Me gusta hablar español, pero solo hablo un poco.

  • Fun Fact #2

    I'm a huge fan of the music of Shostakovich, Bach and Frank Zappa.

  • Fun Fact # 3

    My wife and I have two cats who like to hang out with mice far more than we do.

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