Unterricht
1985 legte ich am Mozarteum die Lehrbefähigungsprüfung für Violine ab. Wegen meinem Interesse am Prozeß des Lernens und Lehrens bin ich auch qualifizierte Kinesiologin und NLP-Practitioner. Und weil ein Instrumentallehrer idealerweise auch ein Experte für Bewegung ist, auch Alexandertechnik-Lehrerin - siehe www.alexandertechnik-koeln.de.
Meine Absicht beim Unterrichten ist, jeden da abzuholen wo er oder sie gerade ist, und bei den nächsten mir sinnvoll erscheinenden Schritten zu helfen - egal ob völliger Anfänger oder Fortgeschrittener, Amateur oder Berufsmusiker, ob mit "moderner" Geige, Bratsche oder Barockgeige.
Unterrichtserfahrung sammelte ich mit Privatschülern, auf sieben Jahren Sommerkursen für Alte Musik in Daroca, vertretungsweisem Unterrichten am Trinity College of Music London, als Gastprofessorin für Barockvioline und Barockviola an der Musikakademie zu Bydgoszcz - im Rahmen derer ich auch Methodik, Ornamentik und Kammermusik unterrichtete - und als Lehrbeauftragte an der Kölner Musikhochschule.
Feedback von ehemalige Studenten:
Verena Fischer-Zernin (Privatunterricht - Freiberufliche Geigerin):Irmgard Schaller zeigt Zusammenhänge auf, schaut und hört genau und freundlich hin, unterrichtet mit Weitblick und Humor und ermutigt dazu, selbst weiterzudenken und auszuprobieren. Eine Motivationsspritze!
Isabel Franenberg (Privatunterricht):Lessons with Irmgard are fun and exciting, she’s open and kind, but takes it seriously. It was extremely helpful how practical she was, I now feel completely comfortable playing either chin off or on. After my lessons with Irmgard I was able to apply and get accepted to the early music department on viola at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, successfully earn my degree of Music and now enjoy a career of viola player!
Marcin Tarnawski (The Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music, Bydgoszcz, Poland):Classes at Irmgard Schaller are one of the most valuable experiences in my professional life. Friendly atmosphere, accurate tips and the ability to look from a student perspective make you wait for the next lesson. During classes, Irmgard's first comments always concerned those elements of performance that she particularly liked or noticed progress. Critical remarks, in addition to analyzing the problem, were provided with specific ideas on how to solve it. Another feature of classes with Irmgard is the way she organizes her knowledge, thanks to which I have always felt safe in my musical searches and ideas. For these reasons, often my students hear about Irmgard when I mention what she said about the particular problem during class with me. If you are looking for a mentor on your musical path, it will be hard to find a better one than Irmgard Schaller.
Dominik Dębski (Principal Viola Poznań Philharmonic, Wrocław Baroque Orchestra):I have had a chance to meet Irmgard Schaller for the first time quite late in my professional life. I was already working with modern orchestra for quite some time and had some experience with historical performing practice, but wanted to broad up my perspective and therefore I’ve started to study. I must admit that working with Irmgard has been beneficial on many fields. Her vast knowledge of various historical styles and practices was impressive and to this day I feel that it helped to build a solid base for me as historically informed performer. Irmgard - having herself worked with one of the best orchestras ever - helped me to perceive my role as an orchestra member from a new angle. Today my professional life is divided between modern and baroque viola, and I feel that practical tips I learned from Irmgard „do the magic” and help enormously to this very day.