LESSONS, MASTERCLASSES & PRESENTATIONS
Dr. Tomas Cotik is the violin professor at Portland State University, where he recently received the inaugural Dean’s Council Award For Research, Scholarship & Creativity for his significant contributions to research, scholarship and creative activity at the international level. He previously taught at West Texas A&M University, Florida International University, and at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. Committed to passing on his passion for music, Tomas Cotik regularly provides master classes, lectures, and presentations around the globe. Recent masterclasses and residencies were held at Round Top Music Festival, Ithaca College, California State University Northridge, West Virginia University, California State University, Fresno, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of New Mexico, University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Jerusalem University Har Hazofim among many others. Dr. Cotik also gave presentations at TMEA in San Antonio, the College Music Society international convention in Buenos Aires, Vancouver and San Antonio as well as at the American String Teachers Association national conference in Tampa. In the work with his students, Tomas emphasizes a natural approach to the instrument, providing tools to avoid unnecessary physical tensions. His recent articles on this philosophy and other topics were published by The Strad, the American String Teacher Association Journal and the National Association for Music Education magazine. His ultimate goal is to guide his students so that they cultivate, develop, and further their individual artistic visions and professional dreams. Another emphasis as a mentor is guiding his students to develop career tools that will help them succeed as performers in the 21st century. As violin professor at PSU Dr. Cotik maintains a high level of international students from US, China, Japan, South America and Easter Europe. He also accepts a limited number of private violin students both in person and via Skype.
