This episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1mavFlev0c
Snezana's Web Site: https://worldviolinacademy.com/
Snezana’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwtSifEUa5brWVuO9rodtRw
It’s perhaps little known that former Yugoslavia had and that Serbia still has a well-developed, strong, world-renowned, publicly funded music program. This foundation and thorough understanding of what yields good results, combined with her international experience not only as a performer but also as an educator, shaped Snezana in such a way that she has a unique ability to fill some gaps.
On the importance of talent vs hard work: In short, hard work is 100% of success.
Generally speaking, it depends on age. In very young students, if they are talented, they do well. Everything comes with ease. Once they reach 12-13 years, the importance of talent fades. If they don’t work hard they don’t do well. If a student doesn’t practice, all talent is gone.
On practicing: It’s really hard practicing sometimes 8-12 hours a day. It’s very technical, it takes lots of thinking, it’s like math, it’s like building a sculpture when it’s all done only then do we put feelings in. When she was little she didn’t like practicing. What made her change her ways is when she won her first competition, and she liked that feeling. She wanted that experience again.
Her strategies when she had a hard time practicing: a) changing a piece; b) imagining herself on the stage.
World Violin Academy (Snezana’s website)
Teaching: After each lesson, she writes a report which has a dual purpose: a) to give valuable feedback she wishes she had when she was younger; b) to teach students how to write, use the right terminology and in doing so prepare them for exams which require writing as well.
Arrangements: She created numerous arrangements in UEA, and she had to work with different levels of knowledge within a violin orchestra that was not at a level to play Bach’s originals for which scores obviously exist. If she went by official scores they would have never had an orchestra. This experience and ability are extremely useful in developing music programs. She writes books and programs as well.
Future: Include other teachers from all over the World, who will teach students under her guidance. Lessons are tailored for the London College of Music examination prep
On advice for those who want to become professional musicians: Focus on internal motivation. Otherwise, it is too hard, if you focus on fame, on followers, etc., there is always someone doing better. If you want to dedicate your life to music, just enjoy it, and do something within your range.
