Why Faith-Based Lessons?
Bring Glory to God Through Music…
As a music student, I was one of very few professing Christians attending my school. I always wondered why this was as classical music has a long, historical connection with Christianity—and as musicians, our main purpose through our performances should be to bring glory to God…right? If this is the case, why should musical education be so firmly disconnected from the worship of God? Why are there so few Christian, musical method books? Is there a way to incorporate Biblical teachings with their musical instruction?
This is why I started King David’s String Academy. With modern culture seeming to drift further away from Biblical values daily, it is now more crucial than ever that Christian parents keep Jesus Christ at the center of their child’s education in all ways possible.
At King David’s String Academy, every lesson is geared toward not only helping the student become the best musician they can be, but also to give them encouragement and inspiration to glorify God through every aspect of their musical training. A combination of hymns, classical works, and contemporary Christian songs are a part of the repertoire taught giving every student a well-rounded and fun collection of pieces they can perform in any setting!
P.S…Would you like to learn violin or viola alongside your child? I welcome Adult students of any playing level as well! Please feel free to contact me for more information.
-Rebecca Phillips, Founder
Meet the Teacher!
Violinist and violist Rebecca Phillips has distinguished herself as an avid chamber musician and dedicated teacher.
An active performer both nationally and internationally, Ms. Phillips has performed orchestrally in such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Fisher Center, Sydney Opera House, and the Shanghai Performing Arts Center. Her recent chamber music collaborations have included performances with violinists William Preucil and Laura Goldberg, cellist, Terry King, and the Villiers, Hausmann, and Invoke string quartets. Having made her national radio debut with her former quartet on Robert Sherman’s McGraw Hill Young Artist Showcase in 2014, Ms. Phillips was featured a second time on the show in the Spring of 2019. Other concerts include solo and chamber music performances with the Dvorak American Heritage Association, The Sound Gallery Ensemble, Lyrica Chamber Orchestra, Wellesley College faculty artist series, SeptemberFest, and Civic Morning Musicals among many more.
Although much of her professional life was devoted to the performance and teaching of the classical masterwork repertoire, as a life-long Christian she has been recently led to use her talents towards inspiring young musicians to use their own musical gifts to glorify God.
Having previously worked as a teaching artist in underprivileged communities, Rebecca has served as a mentor to the students of Longy School of Music’s El Sistema Side by Side series under the baton of Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, held a teaching residency at Rockport Music’s String Summit, and was a member of From the Top’s “young artist resident string quartet” as a part of their Development of Arts Leaders program, and taught at La Casita in Syracuse, NY. It is her hope that she can further spread the message of healing and peace through music to those who need it most.
Passionate about teaching, Ms. Phillips is the founder of King David’s String Academy. Rebecca was Laura Bossert’s teaching assistant at Syracuse University, Longy School of Music, and Wellesley College. She has also served on the faculties of various chamber music festivals such as the New England Chamber Music Festival and ArtsAhimsa at Belvoir Terrace.
Ms. Phillips holds a Master’s Degree from Syracuse University, as well as an Undergraduate Diploma and Teaching Artist Certificate from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. Her primary teachers are Laura Bossert and Terry King.
When Rebecca is not teaching or performing, she loves to spend time playing with her beautiful Siberian Husky, Chinook.