Teach

I was a student of Dr. Nina Bledsoe-Knight for two and a half years. She became my teacher halfway through my undergraduate degree; switching professors can be very unsettling, since I expected my teacher to mentor me the entire duration of my studies. However, any worries I had about switching to a new professor quickly resolved after meeting Dr. Bledsoe-Knight. Her calm demeanor, combined with her kindness and approachability serve as the perfect combination of traits for a viola mentor. She is very understanding of her students, and is very in tune to how they are feeling: students have bad days at lessons, and Dr. Bledsoe-Knight’s consideration creates a safe space for her students. Having recently attended her Fall 2020 studio recital, the sound of her teaching is very clear across all skill levels of students. In addition to teaching proper technique, it is very apparent she coaches her student’s listening skills. Across her studio, appropriate intonation and sensibility to one’s instrument signify a heightened awareness of sound. It is clear by the quality of their recordings that Dr. Bledsoe-Knight has mentored her students’ recording skills, and guided them with good repertoire choices. Dr. Bledsoe-Knight’s performance skills are strong: she is a leader, and an excellent chamber musician. Her viola has a very sweet and diverse tone, she is very adaptable, and blends beautifully with the warmth of lower stringed instruments, as well as the brightness of upper stringed instruments. As a board member of the Houston Viola Society, she is broadly networked in the viola scene, including underrepresented composers and musicians.

I can see that Sophia has been practicing and is feeling very motivated by keeping her daily diary to stay on track. She has improved a lot and really enjoys her lessons with you. I’m happy that she is passionate about the lessons and so eager to learn. She looks up to you as a role model and I think you have really inspired her to be a musician. Thank you for your guidance and sharing your knowledge with Sophia.

"Although my mother, sister, and I didn’t get to meet Ms. Nina until my senior year, I am so happy that we did. My sister and I haven’t had Ms. Nina as long as some others have been learning with her, but after having a long track record of other teachers, we can safely say she has been the very best. I had some very bad habits I’d developed throughout my orchestra career that were causing me tremendous pain and crippling my learning. Some teachers had tried to help, but it wasn’t until I got to Ms. Nina that I found (she found!) a permanent fix. She reignited both my learning and my desire to learn with my instrument. She’s a very gentle person but a firm teacher and I’m much more confident with my music now that I’ve had her guidance. She’s very talented with her music but also a very skilled teacher- the former without the latter is good, both together is what makes Ms. Nina outstanding! If you’re willing to put forth your best effort, she will take you far. I am so thankful for having met her and I recommend her to anyone looking for a music teacher, either violin or viola."

"I am a current student at Florida State University College of Music (studying violin performance) and I could not have gotten to this point without Nina's help. She is an amazing violinist/teacher and I learned so much from her over the 3 years that I was with her. Not to mention the fact that she is also incredibly nice and helpful (yet tough) in a one-on-one setting. She helped me grow into the musician that I am today and I cannot thank her enough! I highly recommend taking lessons from her if you are looking to become a better musician. I would not have wanted to take from anyone else over my high school years."

"I was a viola student of Dr. Knight for four years at SHSU. Dr. Knight is such a passionate, knowledgeable, and inspiring teacher. My degree plan only required me to take three years of lessons but because I enjoyed taking lessons with Dr. Knight so much, I decided to continue lessons with her for an extra year. Her dedication to her students’ growth and success is so admirable. Dr. Knight has an incredible gift to break down complex musical concepts into more approachable parts, which made me feel like I already knew the answer to the question she was asking. She is also able to find the roots of problems and permanently fix them instead of finding temporary solutions. It seems like she always knows when a student needs a comforting hand, tough love, or a combination of the two. She takes her students’ wants and goals into consideration, especially when selecting pieces and interpreting the music. Her passion for music is contagious. On a personal level, I experienced a lot of life transitions during my time with her and Dr. Knight always made me feel like I could come to her for help. She provided a safe and supportive space where I could discuss not only my musical challenges, but also my life challenges. Her advice has stayed with me, even in my professional life as a music therapist, and I can say with certainty that I have continued to actively seek out opportunities to play viola because of her. I am so incredibly thankful that I was fortunate enough to have her as my teacher."

"I was Nina’s student for almost three years in high school. Her steady patience and constructive feedback helped me grow as a musician and instilled a deep sense of discipline and perseverance in me. I especially appreciated her ability to tailor her teaching approach to the individual needs and aspirations of each student, including myself. She helped me prepare for various auditions with specific techniques and tools, but also allowed me the flexibility to choose what piece to learn next. She was always passionate about music and teaching, and I left her lessons excited to learn more. While I no longer play the viola, the invaluable life lessons and skills I gained under Nina’s guidance continue to be a significant part of who I am today. Her lessons left me with a love for music and an invaluable diligence that have helped me succeed in so many aspects of my life. All things considered, I am grateful for the privilege of being Nina’s student, and I would highly recommend anyone else to do the same, given the opportunity."

"I started taking lessons with Mrs. Nina when I was in seventh grade. We didn't look very far for a private teacher because I had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Nina in my orchestra class when she volunteered as a violin clinician to help our struggling group of violins. My mom and I had talked about getting an instructor for me and I knew that she would be a perfect match from day one. At first, I was nervous, unsure, and I had developed some bad habits that my orchestra director hadn't caught in the chaos of everyday rehearsal. Mrs. Nina was quick to point them out and patient as I worked to correct them. I can proudly say that I have improved dramatically since that first lesson and I am confident in my abilities. She has helped me prepare for All-State, Honors, and High School auditions. Mrs. Nina's gentle but instructive directions made me feel comfortable and courageous in my abilities as a player. She has showed me that playing violin can be rewarding and fun as long as you are willing to work toward your goal- which she is more than happy to help you reach."