Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio
F E A T U R E
Interview with Julia Rupp
F E A T U R E
Interview with Julia Rupp
How old were you when you first learned to play an instrument?
When I was about 6 or 7, my parents bought me a keyboard. With no formal training, I started to pick up some basic piano without reading music. I loved to mess around with the preloaded drum beats and all of the different sound effects the keyboard could make. My uncle, who is an accomplished composer/scorer for Disney, Nickelodeon, Discovery channel, and more, was a major inspiration for me, and eventually he and my parents convinced me to take piano lessons. About 6 months later I took up the cello as a part of my public school 5th grade music program, and the rest is history! When I began High School, I decided to stop taking piano lessons to focus on the cello, but I still love to play piano informally.
Aside from teaching the cello, what are some of your current musical endeavors?
Since graduating from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee in 2019, I have been gigging around the Boston area, subbing in concerts, playing for weddings, recording at Berklee, and occasionally playing with my friend’s band in New York (Ava Heatley, check her out!). I have also dabbled with scoring advertisements and short films/videos. I have a lot more to learn but I hope to improve on those skills (and perhaps one day monetize them!). The COVID-19 pandemic certainly didn’t help me as a recent graduate, but I think I have settled into a perfect balance of teaching, performing, composing, and being a human being outside of music.
What is your favorite type of music?
Well, that’s an impossible question to answer. According to my Spotify, the artist I listen to most is James Blake. I could write an essay about my appreciation for him, but to summarize, I am drawn to his work because he’s highly collaborative; he has his hands in all parts of the production of his work, he’s a fantastic and engaging live performer, and his music is a mashup of several genres.
In the classical realm, I tend to gravitate towards chamber music. Piano quartets and quintets are generally my favorite because they exist in the space where they can be full and rich with a wide range while still offering a more intimate space for both performers and listeners.
Aside from the abovementioned, I love funk, alternative rock, pop, jazz, folk and, of course, Classical music.
What is your greatest accomplishment as a teacher?
One of my biggest accomplishments as a teacher was when my 9 y/o student was accepted to the New England Preparatory School. I always knew they could do it and seeing their hard work and dedication pay off was extremely rewarding.
If you could give a quick tip to students, what would it be?
If you can’t play it slow, you can’t play it fast. In my experience, slow and intentional practice is the most effective and efficient practice. Our brains can only process so much at once, give it some extra time to put the puzzle pieces together! My students have the pleasure (or curse) of hearing this almost every lesson.
What do you do to get out of a practice funk?
I just stop practicing. Everyone is different, but when I’m in a practice funk, I’m usually very frustrated, and I know that once I hit that point, I won’t make any progress. Like everyone, my time is limited, so I think it only makes sense to be realistic about my practice efficiency. For me, the best thing to do is to take a step back, think about what might be the cause of my practice funk, and make a plan to get out of it with realistic goals and timelines.
When you’re not performing or teaching, what other hobbies or interests do you have?
I’m a huge foodie, so I love to cook! I spent many years in various roles in the service industry, which opened my eyes to the endless possibilities and creativity of food. In 2021, I had the incredible opportunity to learn from and cook alongside a pro chef in the Brookline area, and I plan to continue to build upon those skills for the rest of my life.
Additionally, I’m an amateur mycologist. In 2020, I joined the Boston Mycological club, a wonderful resource for all mushroom related information and activities (it’s also the oldest mycological club in the world!). This past summer I foraged my first Laetiporus Sulphureus, aka chicken of the woods, and made a delicious pasta dish with it. One day I hope to have a dog and train it to “hunt” mushrooms such as morels, chanterelles, lion’s mane, and chickens.
Learn more about our Cello teacher Julia Rupp in her Teacher Page.
When I was about 6 or 7, my parents bought me a keyboard. With no formal training, I started to pick up some basic piano without reading music. I loved to mess around with the preloaded drum beats and all of the different sound effects the keyboard could make. My uncle, who is an accomplished composer/scorer for Disney, Nickelodeon, Discovery channel, and more, was a major inspiration for me, and eventually he and my parents convinced me to take piano lessons. About 6 months later I took up the cello as a part of my public school 5th grade music program, and the rest is history! When I began High School, I decided to stop taking piano lessons to focus on the cello, but I still love to play piano informally.
Aside from teaching the cello, what are some of your current musical endeavors?
Since graduating from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee in 2019, I have been gigging around the Boston area, subbing in concerts, playing for weddings, recording at Berklee, and occasionally playing with my friend’s band in New York (Ava Heatley, check her out!). I have also dabbled with scoring advertisements and short films/videos. I have a lot more to learn but I hope to improve on those skills (and perhaps one day monetize them!). The COVID-19 pandemic certainly didn’t help me as a recent graduate, but I think I have settled into a perfect balance of teaching, performing, composing, and being a human being outside of music.
What is your favorite type of music?
Well, that’s an impossible question to answer. According to my Spotify, the artist I listen to most is James Blake. I could write an essay about my appreciation for him, but to summarize, I am drawn to his work because he’s highly collaborative; he has his hands in all parts of the production of his work, he’s a fantastic and engaging live performer, and his music is a mashup of several genres.
In the classical realm, I tend to gravitate towards chamber music. Piano quartets and quintets are generally my favorite because they exist in the space where they can be full and rich with a wide range while still offering a more intimate space for both performers and listeners.
Aside from the abovementioned, I love funk, alternative rock, pop, jazz, folk and, of course, Classical music.
What is your greatest accomplishment as a teacher?
One of my biggest accomplishments as a teacher was when my 9 y/o student was accepted to the New England Preparatory School. I always knew they could do it and seeing their hard work and dedication pay off was extremely rewarding.
If you could give a quick tip to students, what would it be?
If you can’t play it slow, you can’t play it fast. In my experience, slow and intentional practice is the most effective and efficient practice. Our brains can only process so much at once, give it some extra time to put the puzzle pieces together! My students have the pleasure (or curse) of hearing this almost every lesson.
What do you do to get out of a practice funk?
I just stop practicing. Everyone is different, but when I’m in a practice funk, I’m usually very frustrated, and I know that once I hit that point, I won’t make any progress. Like everyone, my time is limited, so I think it only makes sense to be realistic about my practice efficiency. For me, the best thing to do is to take a step back, think about what might be the cause of my practice funk, and make a plan to get out of it with realistic goals and timelines.
When you’re not performing or teaching, what other hobbies or interests do you have?
I’m a huge foodie, so I love to cook! I spent many years in various roles in the service industry, which opened my eyes to the endless possibilities and creativity of food. In 2021, I had the incredible opportunity to learn from and cook alongside a pro chef in the Brookline area, and I plan to continue to build upon those skills for the rest of my life.
Additionally, I’m an amateur mycologist. In 2020, I joined the Boston Mycological club, a wonderful resource for all mushroom related information and activities (it’s also the oldest mycological club in the world!). This past summer I foraged my first Laetiporus Sulphureus, aka chicken of the woods, and made a delicious pasta dish with it. One day I hope to have a dog and train it to “hunt” mushrooms such as morels, chanterelles, lion’s mane, and chickens.
Learn more about our Cello teacher Julia Rupp in her Teacher Page.