JAVS Fall 2007

BARBARA WESTPHAL

By Spencer Martin

During the summer of 2006 I had the opportunity to work with Barbara Westphal in a variety of venues. In addition to having lessons with her myself. I was able to observe her teaching at the Musikhochschule in Lubeck and at the Oberstdorfer Musiksommer, a music festival in the Bavarian village of Oberstdorf

Biography Barbara Westphal has taught viola at the

Musikhochschule in Lubeck since 1989. Her teachers have included Fances Mason and Broadus Erie as well as additional studies with Siegfried Fi.ihrlinger and Michael Tree. A former member of the Delos Quartet, winner of the 1981 String Quarttt Compttition in Colmar, France, Ms. Westphal also won both the Munich lnttnzational Compttition and the Busch Prize as a solo artist in 1983. Ms. Westphal is a highly sought-after reacher whose students are engaged with top orchestras in Germany and abroad, and several of her students have won awards at international competitions. Ms. Westphal regularly presents master classes in Europe, the United Stares, and Asia, and adjudicates at major competi tions such as the Munich lnttrnational Compttition and the Gmroa !nttrnational Music Compttition. Teaching In addition to maintaining a busy performing career, Barbara Westphal teaches 14 viola students at the Musikhochschule in LUbeck. Each student receives a weekly 90-minure lesson, and the level of the students in her studio is very advanced. When I commented on her heavy reaching load, Ms. Westphal confessed that she is reaching two more students than would constitute a full teaching load. "I have a hard rime saying no to a talented student." I asked her how she finds time to practice. "I get up early." She tries to practice for two hours before she begins teaching each

Wtstphal working with Karolint Wthst.

day. "As long as I play concertS and demonstrate in lessons in such a way that it helps my students, I need to be in shape myself " In observing Ms. Westphal's teaching in Lubeck, I was impressed by her straightforward approach and by her attention to detail. When asked about the structure of lessons, Ms. Westphal responded that she feels most comfortable when she has at least 90 minutes ro spend with each student, and that she paces the lesson accordingly. As 1 observed a number of lessons, it became clear that Barbara Westphal is a teacher who builds a technical foundation as well as provides artis tic guidance for her students. To assist her in her teach ing of technique, she calls upon many crudes from the repertoire. he does not require students to go through complete volumes of crudes, but assigns specific crudes and exercises for particular technical reasons.

It was also enlightening to watch Ms. Westphal reach violists who were nor her regular students in master

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