Featured Teacher: TORI VENSKE
Our teaching faculty here at Music House is top-notch, and this week we’d like to feature woodwind and piano teacher, Tori Venske!
We asked her a few questions about her background so you can get to know her a bit better! Read it here for yourself...
What's your main instrument and why?
Clarinet is my primary instrument! Music has always been central to my life, but I really fell in love with the clarinet in 2014. After watching Naruto, an animated series following the main character Naruto working hard to achieve his dream, I felt inspired to strive towards my own dreams of becoming a musician. Ultimately, the sense of community that I experience in concert band and orchestra drew me into pursuing classical music in clarinet over piano or singing.
What's your musical origin story?
As a young child, I was absolutely mesmerized by the hourly bells one day in my hometown. It felt like time stopped and that music called to me; I knew music was going to be the path for me. After that day, I begged my family for voice and piano lessons for years, and finally started piano lessons at the age of nine! I then began voice lessons at ten and clarinet at eleven in my middle school band. One of my biggest inspirations is Taylor Swift, since I initially wanted to be a singer-songwriter.
Can you share a good gig story?
Earlier this year, I was asked to perform at a Celebration of Life by a mentor of mine in honor of her mother. My best friend and I arranged about a dozen of her mother’s favorite songs for clarinet and saxophone, including “September,” “Carry On My Wayward Son,” and “Country Roads,” among others. My mentor’s toddler was so drawn into the music that he wandered up to us and looked up in awe. It was truly an honor to be part of a special day to celebrate a life, especially through some of her favorite songs. Music can be so healing and inspirational.
Tell us about your practice routine and share some practice tips.
I try to plan out my practice routine in an efficient way. I split my practice over several sessions, beginning with long tones, scale patterns, and reed work. Then I will work on my repertoire. I use forScore and arrange my pieces into different setlists and place them in order from hardest to easiest. I can easily keep track of the pieces and sections I need to prioritize this way!
I also am an advocate for mental practice as someone who has recovered from severe playing injuries in the past. I visualize fingering the part in my head, internally audiate the pitches, and mark in patterns or fingerings before getting out the instrument. Internalizing the music also makes it easier for me to connect with it.
My biggest piece of advice for practice is to play as slow as you need to get it right. Building a solid foundation will help you achieve your musical goals! Music is about the journey, not the destination. Practice and rehearsals are both a fun way to not only challenge yourself, but also to express yourself.
What drew you to the Music House team?
I really value that Music House is centered on fostering community through music. The bands and classes provide an opportunity for everyone to create music and bond with peers, as well as share this with the larger community at performances! I feel so lucky to work with an amazing team of admins and teachers!
We're lucky to have Tori.
