Ian Woodman

Ian Woodman began his musical training in Edmonton when he was eight years old in the EPSB Strings Program. Lessons with ESO cellists Anna Hyder and Tim Khaner prepared him for post-secondary studies with Claude Kenneson. Moving to Victoria to learn from James Hunter, one of Canada’s best teachers, prepared him for a professional cello career.

Ian spent six years as Principal Cello of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, playing, teaching, and adjudicating throughout central British Columbia. A year in Montreal, as principal of Les Jeunes Virtuoses de Montreal was followed by a move back to Edmonton in 1996 to teach cello and bass in the public schools until 2009.

Because the best thing about playing the Cello is its beautiful warm rich sound, he has worked extensively to discover how to teach an optimized sound production to all levels, from very beginners to professionals.

He maintains a busy performing career as well, freelancing as an orchestral, chamber, recording, and theatre musician throughout Alberta and BC, playing often with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Strathcona String Quartet and for the Citadel Theatre.

Teaching Quote/Philosophy: 

As a cello instructor with the Conservatory for over 20 years, Ian has striven to teach each student as an individual, understanding that everyone has their own learning style. 
 
Because the cello is a social instrument, as well as studying privately, he encourages his students to join a musical group, from cello ensembles to string orchestras and full symphonic orchestras. 

Lesson Description: 

I offer lessons from 30 minutes to 2 hours at my home studio in Inglewood. 
I teach all levels and ages; I have had students from 4 to 92 years of age. 
My approach to learning the cello is to teach reading and playing at the same time. If a student has not yet learned to read music, we start at the beginning for everything. If the student is lucky enough to read music we then get to concentrate on making the cello sound.