Samuel Jenkins Music
About
As a professional classically-trained violinist with over 20 years of playing experience, I frequently play violin and viola in music theater and orchestra performances in the Spokane, WA / Coeur d'Alene, ID area. Most recently I performed in Waymaker Arts' new musical "Pride v. Prejudice" (performed at a church in Post Falls, ID, Jul.-Aug. 2025), and before that the Rogers and Hammerstein musical "Cinderella" (performed at Gonzaga University, May 2025). I've also performed with the Cantus Firmus Chorale orchestra, playing viola in Bach's Mass in B minor (New Saint Andrews college, Mar. 2025).
I taught private violin and viola lessons for two years at the Oaks Christian Academy (2023-2025), teaching ages 6-adult. It was exciting helping students start at any level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and progress in their skills and confidence. Most students within a few months felt ready to perform in student recitals.
I earned my Master of Music in Composition in 2022 from Houghton University (Houghton, NY), where I studied violin with New York violinist Dr. Soo Yeon Kim and was awarded membership for life in the music honors society Pi Kappa Lambda. Prior to this, I earned my Bachelor of Music in Composition in 2020 from Eastern Washington University (Cheney, WA) where I studied violin with Dr. Julia Salerno; at EWU, I participated in a chamber music competition where my group was coached by the internationally-renowned "Pacifica Quartet." Throughout college I played violin in the Houghton Symphonic Orchestra and the Eastern Washington University Orchestra; prior to college, I played in the Spokane Youth Symphony for 8 years.
Teaching Style
I work with each student to help them achieve their individual learning goals, whether they want to perform professionally, play in a local group/orchestra, or learn violin as a hobby. I focus on helping students learn how to be able to teach themselves, to memorize music, to be able to sight-read new pieces, and to be ready for performances. I love helping students overcome challenges in their playing - anything from posture problems to ineffective practicing techniques - so that students are able to practice and perform while having fun playing music!
Curriculum
For beginners, I use a combination of "Essential Elements for Strings," "Suzuki Violin," and scale books. For more advanced students, I use scale books, etudes, some Suzuki Violin if applicable, and solos/concertos. I can also help with learning orchestral repertoire and non-classical pieces. For recitals, I prefer students choose non-Suzuki pieces for exposure to other music (for beginners, this means finding and practicing a recital piece in addition to Suzuki).