Teaching

Andrea Casarrubios is the Cello Professor at NEO EXCELLENCE in the beautiful Mediterranean city of Altea on Spain’s Valencian coast. This intensive program of masterclasses and private lessons are open to international undergraduate and graduate students throughout the year. Andrea’s studio includes up to 12 students and those who participate are eligible to receive university credits for each three-day residency in collaboration with Florida Universitaria de Valencia. If you would like to be part of one of these residencies, please click here to learn about NEO's faculty, and here to apply.

Experience

Andrea received her doctorate degree from The Graduate Center at CUNY City University of New York, and for the past ten years she has worked with undergraduate and graduate students at The Juilliard School, University of Southern California, Eastman School, The University of Kansas, Skidmore College, Queens College, and various summer festivals, as well as in masterclasses in Spain, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa. As a Teaching Artist for Carnegie Hall and Ensemble Connect, she also taught at City College Academy for the Arts. Having pursued both cello and piano intensively throughout her university studies, she maintains a private studio in New York, coaching students on both instruments.

Andrea is a meticulous, challenging, but also warm and encouraging mentor. Creating a supportive environment is essential to her interactions with students, so they enjoy the freedom to explore new concepts, take risks, try new techniques, ask questions, and, ultimately, form their own opinions to find out what their path with music may be. She believes that a teacher carries an extremely important and beautiful responsibility, and she is passionate about providing that commitment to those who seek her guidance.

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For you 

Although her private teaching schedule is currently full, you are welcome to apply for the masterclasses at NEO EXCELLENCE above! If you are not able to travel, Andrea is always willing to listen and help, and she will be happy to make time if you would like to ask for a virtual lesson. Please use the contact page to send your name, email address, and a link where she can listen to your playing. This recording does not need to include the same piece(s) that you are hoping to work on. As soon as she is able, she will be in touch with you directly.

Concepts 

Depending on your needs, repertoire, and goals, the topics discussed will be tailored to this particular moment in your development. However, in case this information is helpful to you, here are some of the concepts Andrea has worked on with her own students and in masterclasses: breathing, sound production, listening, setting intentions, shifting, building stage presence and healthy confidence, how to strenghten our weaknesses, vibrato and expressivity, difference between musical tension and physical tension, body awareness, understanding and addressing a challenge, perspectives, self-care, concentration, how to practice slowly and ​consciously, style and history, score studying, approaching rehearsals, communicating with chamber colleagues and audience members, the complexity of the word successful, entrepreneurship, improvisation, composition, programming, performing, juggling repertoire. 

Resources

ON SHIFTING: "There are many methods and exercises to practice shifting, but this one changed my life. I have practiced a version of this exercise as a warm up for the past 7 years. It only takes 5-10 minutes a day, and it can help with your overall confidence on stage, command of your instrument, and ear and body awareness. I hope you will find this video useful!" — Andrea Casarrubios

ON VIBRATO: Here you can watch a hilarious and helpful video on vibrato oscillations brought to you by Thomas Mesa.

ON COMPOSITION: Learn about Jeff Scott and the constructive influence powerful voices can have in our society today.

ON EGO AND FEAR: Read Molly Carr's inspiring story which speaks of anxiety, competitiveness, the importance of addressing our needs, and finding quiet spaces to promote joyful creativity.

ON MEDITATION: Here you can find meditation resources and other methods of self-improvement and growth, brought to you by Eric Reed.
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"Working with Andrea is always such a rewarding experience. Her calm demeanor paired with her incredible talent as a teacher and player allows her to create a welcoming and encouraging space for lessons. After every lesson I had, I always felt like I was leaving with a whole new set of skills and ideas that I could start applying to my playing. Even year to year, I found that Andrea was able to change her teaching style to accommodate exactly what I needed. " — George

"I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take a lesson with Andrea during my undergraduate studies, and it was one of the most inspiring and motivating hours of my musical career thus far. By the end of the lesson I had acquired a more enlightened perspective towards the cello, and also its relationship to the human body. Her love for music and the cello is clearly visible when she teaches and performs, it is truly inspirational." — Olivia