Musicians Mark and Amy Phillips love passing on their passion for playing music to students in the CSRA, and their recent move to the Evans area means they can reach new students as they teach from their Riverwood home.
Mark, who began playing the violin at eight years old, remembers the day he decided the violin was for him. “During elementary school, we had a day where they brought in instruments and teachers who taught those instruments. I remember the violinist playing. I went home to my parents and said, ‘I want to take violin lessons!’”
Mark followed through on that desire and studied the Suzuki method under private violin teachers. “I ended up going to the High School for Visual and Performing Arts in Houston, which at that time was one of the top magnet schools in the country,” says Mark. He then went on to study under prominent violinists, including Albert Munzer.
Although Mark’s professional life turned to focus primarily on business, it led him to live in Europe, where he continued his passion of playing the violin. “I played the violin in musical groups and in churches as part of the worship team, so I always retained my love for music, maintained the instrument, and even taught students in Europe.”
Currently, Mark teaches at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts and Westminster Schools of Augusta. “I’ve also retained some private students through my contacts there,” says Mark. “I’ve resurrected the teaching side of music, and I want to relaunch since we’ve moved here.”
Mark’s wife, Amy, shares a life-long passion for music. She remembers, “I started taking piano lessons when I was 6. My great-grandmother, my grandmother, and my mom all played the piano. I studied music all throughout college and have a degree in Music Education with an emphasis in piano. I’ve been teaching private piano lessons for 20 years.”
Last year, in addition to teaching students in private lessons, Amy taught at Curtis Baptist School and the Immaculate Conception Catholic School. Currently, she serves as President of the Augusta Music Teachers Association, an association of private music teachers.
“What I love about teaching,” says Amy, “is to see students progress and get a sense of satisfaction - of ‘Wow! I did this!'”
“It has been very special to watch my three children in piano lessons gain the skills and confidence to create their own music,” says JulieAnn Parker. “I’m so thankful they have Amy for a teacher. She individualizes each child’s lessons and moves at a pace that allows lessons to remain enjoyable.”
“Another thing I’ve really enjoyed is the personal relationship that I’ve developed with some of the children and their parents,” says Amy. "Because they come into the home, they almost start to become like family.”
Speaking of lessons in the home, Mark says, “It’s important for parents to know that we’ve been vetted by respectable educational institutions in the CSRA where we’ve taught. We’re a husband and wife team, but we’re also parents, so we understand that it’s really important for parents to know.”
Learning to play an instrument contributes to the development of a variety of life skills. “There have been so many studies on piano training and how it works both sides of your brain, as you’re using your right and left hand while having to read music staves,” says Amy. “It’s so valuable because it helps in other areas like problem solving and hand-eye coordination.”
Mark adds, “The violin also takes tremendous hand-eye coordination because you’ve got a bow and you’ve got the instrument itself. But also with music, you have to learn to count rhythm. That is very helpful in terms of developing math skills.”
Tanya Cundey, whose daughter Braylin currently takes violin lessons, agrees. She says, “I think learning to play an instrument and reading music helps develop the brain and helps with language development and intelligence. And she is having fun doing it!”
“Additionally,” says Mark, “for any instrument, you’re learning how to practice, set aside time to get better at something, and challenge yourself to reach certain goals. You’re learning to master your own instrument. It can be difficult, even frustrating or challenging, but it’s a great discipline to learn because it’s a valuable life lesson to learn to persevere to achieve something.”
“Music is the language of the heart,” says Mark. “When words fail, music never does because it’s an unspoken language. It’s such a powerful medium that touches people from all different socioeconomic backgrounds, and it’s something that cuts across the race divide. It’s a gift from God, and God uses it touch people’s lives in a powerful way. To be able to instill that in children and to see them develop a love for music, embrace it, and produce their own music - it’s just so incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.”
For more information on violin lessons, contact Mark through his website AugustaViolinLessons.com. For piano lessons, Amy can be reached by email at AmyPhillipsPiano@gmail.com or by calling 706-437-0697. In addition to teaching, both Amy and Mark are available and enjoy playing for special occasions and ceremonies.