Gayna Mandelbaum Bassin,
Violin and Viola Instructor

Love to play but feeling frustrated? Want to learn some time-saving practice techniques, build your sight-reading skills, and play with style? Is your child interested in playing violin or viola?

I teach traditional (non-Suzuki) violin and viola to students from age 7 to adult with emphasis on building reading skills, technique and musical styles. I am now accepting private students for Fall at my Bassin String Studio (Montgomery, Ohio 45242) and the Wyoming Fine Arts Center (45215).

Because I am a member of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs, my students (age 18 and under) have the option to participate in the annual OFMC Junior Festival in March. Many have won Gold Cups for top scores and been invited to perform in the Junior Festival Honors Recitals.

I also enjoy coaching adults and advanced players and help them prepare for auditions and concerts.

Current Positions

• Instructor at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center since 1997.
  
  
• A member of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs, I have adjudicated every OFMC Junior Festival Competition since 2009.
  
  
• Active member and Board Member of Matinée Musicale Cincinnati and Chamber Music Network, two non-profit organizations that support and promote classical music and education in the Greater Cincinnati area.
  
  
• Violin and/or viola performances at Matinée Musicale Cincinnati Members Meetings.
  
  
• Violinist in Queen City Klezmorim, a band specializing in Jewish Eastern European klezmer music.
  
  

Performing Experience

• First Violin section of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 1976-1996.
  
  
• Concertmaster with the Cincinnati Community Orchestra from 2003-2004.
  
  
• Soloist with Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony, the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Community Orchestra.
  
  
• Participant in many international music festivals, including the Blossom Music Festival (Kent State University, Ohio), the Tanglewood Music Festival, the New York String Orchestra conducted by Alexander Schneider, the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico, and the Orchestra de les Jeunesses Musicales conducted by Leonard Bernstein and Michael Tilson Thomas.
  
  

Education

• Bachelor of Music Degree from the Curtis Institute of Music; student of Ivan Galamian, Jaime Laredo and Jascha Brodsky.
  
  
• Master of Music Degree from Indiana University at Bloomington; student of Josef Gingold.
  
  
• Coached in chamber music groups by members of the Guarneri, Curtis and Budapest Quartets.
  

Videos:

• "Simchas Torah" from "Baal Shem Suite" by Ernest Bloch with pianist Janelle Gelfand
  
  
• "Simchas Torah" from "Baal Shem Suite" by Ernest Bloch, with pianist Janelle Gelfand,
  one minute excerpt as posted by Wyoming Fine Arts Center on December 13, 2024
  
  
• "Adagio & Fuga" from "Sonata No. 1 in G Minor for Unaccompanied Violin" by J.S. Bach
  
  
• "Freylikh" with Queen City Klezmorim: Claire Lee, piano, Laura Sabo, clarinet, Chris Novy, drums
  
  
• "Abi Gesunt" with Queen City Klezmorim and soprano Rebecca Axelrod
  
  
• "Drinking Song" from "La Traviata" by Verdi, Claire Lee, piano
  
  
• "Intermezzo" from "Cavalleria Rusticana" by Pietro Mascagni, Claire Lee, piano
  
  

Studio Policies

Lesson Fees
30 minutes....................$30.00
45 minutes....................$40.00
60 minutes....................$50.00

• Payment is due monthly in advance on the first lesson of the month, paid by cash or check. Multiply the lesson fee by the number of weeks per month.
  
  
• Students (age 18 and younger) must commit to one lesson a week, with the exception of holidays and periods out of town. Adult students may schedule lessons as needed.
  
  
• Student must commit to practice every day in order to advance.
  
  
• A scheduled lesson must be cancelled at least 24 hours in advance to receive credit for a make-up lesson. If cancelled due to documented illness or injury, the lesson will be credited to the next month or refunded.
  
  
• Lesson fee must still be paid if the student does not cancel in advance or forgets to come.
  
  
• Failure to practice is NOT an excusable reason to cancel a lesson.
  
  
• Make-up lessons will be scheduled at the mutual convenience of teacher and student.
  
  
• Lessons cancelled due to teacher illness, weather emergency or other unavoidable conflict will be rescheduled, credited to the next month, or refunded.
  
  
• Failure to comply with these policies will result in dismissal from the Studio.
  
  

Contact

Cell: 513-319-3360 Email: gmbassin@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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