I work with students of all ages and levels and tailor my teaching to the student to develop a personalized, goal-oriented approach.
I maintain a thriving online cello studio for students across the globe as well as in-person options in Los Angeles, and I have specialized training in distance learning techniques.
With a Master's in Cello Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from the Cleveland Institute of Music, I am certified to teach Suzuki Cello Books 1-10. In addition to my private teaching studio, I also serve on the faculty at the Colburn School Community School for the Performing Arts in downtown Los Angeles. Before relocating to California from Ohio in 2017, I served on the faculty at the College of Wooster and was Department Head of Strings at The Music Settlement in Cleveland, a large community music school and epicenter for the arts, as well as several other educational institutions and camps. It is one of my greatest joys to share my love of music with my students and the next generation of musicians.
Testimonials
“Carlyn is one of the most wonderful people our daughter has ever had the pleasure of learning from. She is a stunning Cello player and her teaching ability is magical. She started working with our daughter at a young age, but we have seen her bring an equal level of enthusiasm and attention to musicians of all ages. Carlyn immediately connected with our daughter and continues to inspire all of us daily. We could not give a higher recommendation.”
“I don’t leave many yelp reviews, but when the opportunity presented itself to give some honest feedback for Carlyn Kessler as a private cello instructor for our 11 year old child- I couldn’t say no. We were lucky enough to find Carlyn just before COVID-19 shut down normal in-person life as we knew it in early 2020. We had no idea that the first initial meeting would be our only in-person meeting for the foreseeable future. As accredited as Carlyn is as a musician (and trust me- her performances are truly incredible!), what really drew us to accept her into our musical family is her genuine kindness and ability to connect with our son who had limited cello experience as recent convert from the violin. Over the next couple of years, through weekly instruction, structured practice plans, and seasonal recitals, we have seen our young cellist transform in confidence and skill into an amazing musician who loves playing. As a parent, seeing and hearing the progress of our young cellist has been an immeasurable and thrilling experience. Carlyn has always been super communicative and flexible in terms of scheduling lessons and her rates are very reasonable. Carlyn has always exhibited patience and enthusiasm during lessons, and we consider ourselves fortunate to have Carlyn in our family.”
“Carlyn is a wonderful cellist and an excellent cello teacher. My daughter took lessons (Suzuki) with Carlyn for three years, starting at age 7. Carlyn’s teaching style is consistent, upbeat, fun, and imaginative. She teaches technique and musicality in an accessible way for both beginning musicians and for more advanced players. I can’t recommend Carlyn enough. Los Angeles has gained a gem of a cello teacher.”
“Carlyn has been teaching my son cello since 2018. We are very happy with her and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a skilled and empathetic teacher! Carlyn demonstrates an excellent understanding of children and is able to intuit my son’s moods and tailor her lessons to meet his skill level. She is easy to communicate with and very responsive to parent input. She also makes lessons fun and has many educational tools and techniques at the ready! Highly recommend!”
“Carlyn has been my cello teacher since early 2020. As an adult student with experience in other instruments, I had a high bar. Carlyn impressed me thoroughly with her expertise, skills, technique, attention to detail and her warm and effective teaching style. I feel very lucky to have found her. In addition to her musical talents, she’s also a great communicator/planner and super organized.
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“I was Carlyn’s student while I was during my senior at the College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio), where she was an adjunct professor. During my time at the College of Wooster, I had three teachers, including Carlyn. She by far left the most impact on my musical growth and desire to continue to further my education as a cellist during graduate school. Carlyn’s comments are highly constructive and she conducts lessons in adaptive way that cater to your strengths and weakness as a cellist. In addition to a strong emphasis on technique, Carlyn pushed me to critically consider the phrasing of the given repertoire on which we were working. As a result, during my time as a student with Carlyn, I observed significant improvement in not only technique, but also musicality. I was sincerely sad when my time as Carlyn’s student came to an end, as she truly is a wonderful teacher and very talented musician.”
“It has been such a pleasure watching you work with our son. The confidence he has gained from seeing his hard work and practice transform into beautiful music permeates into every aspect of his life. I cannot speak highly enough about your style, patience, and ability to connect (even through a computer screen!). We are completely blown away by his progress and your instruction.”
“Carlyn was my daughter’s teacher for about four years. She is extraordinary as a musician, teacher and mentor. We also enjoyed seeing her creative performances around town. Carlyn was truly engaged in sharing the power and beauty of music with a broad audience. We miss her but know she will do very well in California!”
“Carlyn is a fabulous cellist and teacher! She is always professional, kind, and takes a thorough approach, providing students with the skills they need for technical mastery and sensitive artistry.”