Interested in Violin?

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest in violin studies at Baylor University.  Please follow the steps on the How to Apply page to request an audition and start the application process. Please contact Dr. Eka Gogichashvili (Eka_Gogichashvili@baylor.edu) or Professor Patricia Shih (Patricia_Shih@baylor.edu) with any questions about violin studies or our string program.

The Baylor School of Music offers the following degrees for those majoring in violin:

• Bachelor of Music (Performance)
• Bachelor of Music Education
• Bachelor of Arts
• Master of Music

A limited number of Graduate Assistantships are available for violinists admitted to the Master of Music program.

Performance Opportunities

The Baylor School of Music offers numerous high level performance opportunities through its’ nationally recognized chamber music program and the Baylor Symphony Orchestra. Please feel free to visit Chamber Music and Baylor Symphony Orchestra for more information. You may also contact Stephen Heyde, the Mary Franks Thompson Professor of Orchestral Studies (Stephen_Heyde@baylor.edu) for additional orchestra related questions.

Violin Studios Mission

The mission of the violin studios is to help students become well-rounded musicians and professionals.  Our primary goal is to assist every student in reaching their full potential.  The Baylor School of Music is a unique environment that promotes students’ growth and maturity in a caring community of talented students and highly dedicated and inspiring fulltime music faculty of artist/teachers.

The focus of applied violin lessons and studio classes is to develop the following among other skills:

• Perfect the basic violin technique in order to reach complete fluency on the instrument
• Gain an understanding of the physical principles governing sound
• Develop the observational and analytical skills needed to diagnose and notice technical deficiencies in different musical contexts
• Learning good practice skills with most efficient, natural, and organic approaches
• Developing interpretation skills through a knowledge of style and expressive devises
• Gain exposure to and proficiency in standard major violin repertoire literature             

Baylor String Program

The Baylor string program offers a wide range of experiences and courses for students’ education including symphony orchestra, chamber music, early music ensemble, orchestral excerpts classes, and contemporary music ensemble, among other offerings.   Our program also provides outstanding opportunities for highly talented and proficient Secondary Majors who seek musical growth and development in performance and education, while majoring in areas outside of music. Most of our music students receive music merit scholarships based on audition results and needs of the School. There are also additional paid teaching and playing opportunities through the Baylor String Project and the Waco Symphony Orchestra.

Alumni success

Most of our alumni have successful musical careers in professional orchestras or in significant teaching positions in higher education institutions or public schools. Many of our past and current students have been accepted to prestigious music institutions for their continued education and to the most sought-after summer music festivals like Aspen, Tanglewood, Music Academy of the West, Eastern Music Festival and Round Top. For many, the skills learned at Baylor University have opened the door to meaningful lives in their home communities, pursuing playing opportunities in orchestras and chamber ensembles and teaching in schools and in their home studios.

Meet our Faculty

Dr. Eka Gogichashvili

Ms. Patricia Shih