A Different Approach to Learning

+10 Years of Teaching Experience

This approach has been developed through more than ten years of teaching experience and continues to evolve through ongoing research and practice. In recent years, it has been enriched by principles drawn from Somatic Education, integrating a deeper understanding of perception, coordination, and embodied learning into the study of the cello.

  • Lessons are available both in-person and online, offering flexibility without compromising depth or quality. In-person sessions allow for direct physical guidance and nuanced observation of technique and posture, while online lessons provide accessible, focused support regardless of location.

  • Lessons are adapted to each student’s individual goals, background, and way of learning—whether preparing for conservatory auditions, developing a professional artistic practice, or playing the cello as an amateur with curiosity and enjoyment.

The Method

I.

Structure.

I believe in a good foundation. It provides a steady ground from which your path with the cello will grow.

Learning the cello is not only about playing notes or learning pieces. It is about building a structure that supports the player at every stage of their development. When your posture, balance, bow technique, left-hand coordination, listening, and musical understanding are introduced in a clear and thoughtful way, you gain tools you can rely on.

A good foundation: each element having its place, and each new skill should grow naturally from what has come before. A good method gives you a way of understanding how everything is connected — starting with your body-cello relationship.

My aim is to build this structure progressively. We will draw exercises and études from different sources, so your learning becomes more intuitive, and the cello a means of free musical expression.

II.

Our most important goal: to keep enjoying what we do.

Learning an instrument should be more than following instructions and trying to get things right. There should be space to wonder, to experiment, to make discoveries, and sometimes simply to play.

Curiosity is a powerful teacher — and I got to truly learn this thanks to somatic education. When you face questions as a student — What happens if I try this? What does this sound like? Can I make it different? — you begin to listen, observe, experiment, and find your own solutions.

Motivation.

Exploration also means allowing room for mistakes — an invitation to listen more closely and to try again. We will slowly build independence and confidence, so essential to lead your own practice time.

I believe that, within structure, there should always be freedom to explore. A foundation provides security, but playfulness gives you the space to discover what is still uncovered.

III.

Adaptability.

My method is not about providing a rigid set of rules or a fixed way to work with a student. Each student brings their own body, personality, experiences, interests, strengths, challenges, and way of understanding. My teaching approach begins by recognising and responding to these differences.

This means that the same goal may require different paths. One student may need more time, another may need a different explanation, a physical approach, an image, a sound, or the freedom and space to discover something for themselves.

An important pillar of my teaching (in cello, in Yoga, or Somatic Education) is to see the person that I have in front of me. We will work on discovering the tools to observe, listen, and respond.

  • Anatomical Function

    Understanding your body and how it works helps develop a more efficient coordination, and reduces unnecessary effort while playing.

  • Integration of Space

    Grounding through spatial awareness supports movement that is adaptive and precise. Your body exists in space—its relationship to the chair, bow, instrument, and surrounding environment.

  • Creative Expression

    Creativity must be cultivated as an active practice, where curiosity and play lead to a more personal musical expression. Finding your own voice.

  • Attention: A Technical Skill

    Directing the attention toward subtle perceptions deepens the understanding, internalizes techniques more efficiently, and creates a stronger, more reliable foundation for learning.

Feedback From Students

  • Bram.

    “For us, the most important part in playing is that it is fun. Because when class is fun, you look forward to it every time. This is something we need in our busy lives to stay motivated to practice. It always felt like that with you, it was always a small joyful party. You have a very friendly and non-judgmental approach to playing, learning and practicing.

    Furthermore, I have always struggled with being in tune while playing and feeling a bit stuck in progressing on that point, but only when we started taking classes from you I started to notice improvements because you taught us to really listen, experiment a lot, and become more intuitive in playing and less dependent on set rules/guidelines. This has helped me a lot and it proves that you really focus on individual needs based on what you observe and not just follow a standard approach to teaching."

  • Marwa.

    “Zoe has been my cello teacher for over two years now. She is an extremely gifted teacher and cellist. She delivers her lessons with passion, enthusiasm and dedication. She tailors the lessons according to my needs and musical orientations within loosing the insightful grip of a teacher’s wisdom.

    She does not only work on the theoretical part of the music sheet, but also the techniques and relations to the cello and the bow. In addition to the body language and its relationship with the cello. With physical exercises on the shoulders, arms and finger, she helped me better understand the philosophy, physics and chemistry of the cello and myself as a performer. Her background in Yoga and Somatics comes in very handy here, transforming the sessions into a truly powerful, engaging and relaxing learning experience at the same time.”

  • Yorben.

    “Zoe is calm and thoughtful, but at the same time she gives very useful tips and suggestions for improvement. I like that she is not generic in this, but really tailors her feedback to your level, which can either be slower or faster on specific points.

    From the start, she also made an effort to really observe what I was doing well and give tips specific to my physical characteristics. She’s a great teacher at helping you take an extra step in including more nuances and movement in your playing, besides focusing on more technical aspects. In summary: a great teacher if you want very helpful, direct tips, from someone who is also extremely thoughtful and nice to interact with.”

Info & Fees

Private Lesson - Beginner

This format of lesson provides a focused and engaging introduction to the cello while supporting steady technical and musical development. Lessons are adapted to each student's age, experience, and individual pace of learning.

30 minutes | €35 excl. VAT

Private Lesson - Intermediate

45 minutes or 1 hour | from €50 excl. VAT

Suitable for intermediate and advanced students, as well as committed beginners seeking a more in-depth approach. The extended format allows time to explore technique, repertoire and musical interpretation in greater detail. Each lesson tailored to the individual student's needs and goals.

Duo Lesson

45 mins or 1 hour | from €65 excl. VAT

Suitable for beginners or intermediate students. A space dedicated to exploration and fun, building skills like active listening while focusing on a proper technique. The repertoire will vary - from more classical pieces, to modern pieces including styles like jazz, rock or funk.

Book a Lesson

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Lessons are based on a structured and progressive method, while remaining fully adapted to your individual needs and goals. Depending on your level, I recommend specific studies, repertoire, and cello methods that support your development in a clear and focused way. I normally work with a specific method plus selected pieces tailored to each student’s level.

    A central part of the work is learning how to practice effectively. We go in depth into how to approach technical challenges, how to structure your practice time, and how to develop awareness while you play.

  • Definitely. I teach children and adapt my method to their age, attention span, and way of learning. In most of cases I would recommend start with a 30-minute lesson.

    The lessons for children combine a structured technical foundation with playful and engaging ways of practicing, so that learning remains both effective and enjoyable.

  • Yes. In this case, we would work with a very detailed and structured preparation plan tailored to the specific audition requirements, repertoire, and technical level.

    What is essential from the student is a high level of motivation, consistency, and a willingness to invest energy and time into the process. Successful preparation depends not only on what we work on in lessons, but also on how you engage with your daily practice between sessions.

  • You don’t need prior experience to start lessons, but you will need your own cello (rented or owned). If you are unsure about this, I can guide you through the process and provide contact details for reliable luthiers and rental options around.

  • Yes. You don’t need prior experience—what matters most is motivation and some energy during the week.

    I currently work with several adult students who began alongside full-time jobs and busy lives and have been developing their cello playing steadily over the years. Learning the cello as an adult can result in an entirely new world to enter, explore, and be sustained by. My oldest student is 85 y/o and started last year!