TEACHING PHILOSOPHY​

 

Every student is a different instrument. The teacher’s job is to learn how to draw the best from that instrument.

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Iman’s approach begins with a simple premise: there is no single method that works for every musician. What works for a driven ten-year-old preparing for a youth orchestra audition is not what serves a busy professional returning to the violin after decades away. Every lesson is built around the individual — their strengths, their challenges, their goals, and the life they are living outside of music.

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This is not just a teaching philosophy. It is a commitment to showing up fully for each student, every week.

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​THE STUDIO EXPERIENCE

 

​More than lessons. A community built around serious musicianship.

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Students in Iman’s studio don’t just take lessons — they become part of something larger. Weekly studio classes bring together the most motivated students to perform for one another, give and receive feedback ,and develop the confidence that only comes from playing in front of people who understand what you are working toward.

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Key concepts

• discipline

• consistency

• spoken/communicative skills

• camaraderie and studio support

• community involvement

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Twice a year, the studio holds full recitals with professional photography and videography. Every student receives their own performance video — a record of where they are and how far they have come.  Throughout the year Iman attends his students’ concerts, competitions, and performances. Because being a dedicated teacher means being present beyond the lesson.

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STUDENT OUTCOMES

 

​Students don’t just participate. They lead, they win, and they perform on the world’s great stages.

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From their first recital to international concert halls, students from this studio have distinguished themselves at every level — as concertmasters, competition prize winners, and performers at some of the most prestigious venues and programs in the world.

 

Students who train with Iman go on to win competitions, hold concertmaster and principal positions in youth and regional orchestras ,and gain admission to some of the most selective universities in the country — not just as musicians, but as scholars, scientists, and leaders.

 

Students have gone on to study at some of the world's premier institutions:

• Stanford University

• Princeton University

• Columbia University

• Northwestern University

• UCLA

• UC Berkeley

• UC San Diego

• UC Irvine

• University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

• Arizona State University

• Chapman University

• California State University Long Beach

 

​CONCERTMASTER POSITIONS

​Holding a concertmaster position is not simply an honor — it is a designation of leadership, musicianship, and the trust of the conductor as well as an entire ensemble. Students from this studio have served as concertmaster of:

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• Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra

• Irvine Valley College Symphony Orchestra

• Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association(SCSBOA) High School Honors Orchestra

• Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra

• Boston University Tanglewood Institute Orchestra

• Fountain Valley High School Symphony Orchestra

• La Quinta High School Symphony Orchestra

• Orange County School for the Arts Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and String Orchestra

• Sage Hill School Orchestra

• University High School Philharmonic Orchestra

• Woodbridge High School Symphonic Orchestra

• Orchard Hills Middle School Symphony Orchestra

• Rancho San Joaquin Middle School Symphonic Orchestra

• Eastwood Elementary School Chamber Orchestra

• Turtle Rock Elementary School Chamber Orchestra

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ORCHESTRA MEMBERSHIP

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Students have been selected for and performed with some of SouthernCalifornia’s most competitive youth and honors orchestras, as well asnationally recognized ensembles — including performances at CarnegieHall in New York and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

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• National Honors Performance Series Orchestra (Carnegie Hall, NewYork)

• National Honors Performance Series Orchestra (Sydney OperaHouse, Australia)

• California Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) All-State CaliforniaHonors Orchestra (MS and HS)

• Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra

• Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings

• Community Youth Orchestra of Southern California

• South Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra

• Capistrano Unified School District Honors Orchestras

• Irvine Unified School District Honors Orchestras (ES, MS, HS)

• Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association(SCSBOA) High School Honors Orchestra

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MUSIC FESTIVALS & SUMMER PROGRAMS

 

Acceptance to elite summer programs is among the most competitive processes in music education. Students from this studio have been accepted to:

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• Boston University Tanglewood Institute

• Meadowmount School of Music

• Northwestern Bienen School of Music Summer Violin Institute

• Irvine Music Festival

• Community Youth Orchestra of Southern California Music Camp

• Junior Chamber Music

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COMPETITION PRIZE WINNERS

 

Students have earned prizes at competitions spanning three continents —a reflection of the standards of dedication and preparation of the studio:

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• Hong Kong International Violin Competition

• Cecilia International Music Competition (Tokyo, Japan)

• Global Philharmonic Music Competition

• Musical Arts Competition of Orange County

• Satori Festival and Competition

• Southwestern Youth Music Festival

• Community Youth Orchestra of Southern California ConcertoCompetition

• Great Composers Competition

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COMMUNITY PRESENCE

 

Iman has served as adjudicator and sectionals coach for the Orange County Youth Symphony and the Irvine Unified School District Festival, and has conducted the IUSD and Saddleback USD High School HonorOrchestras in concert at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Hall, most recently in 2025. He has been a guest violin teacher at the Colburn School in LosAngeles, and serves as Strings and Orchestra Coach at University, Irvine, and Northwood High Schools, as well as Rancho San Joaquin and SierraVista Middle Schools in Irvine.

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To inquire about lessons, please use the contact form to schedule a consultation.

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