Today we’d like to introduce you to Nan Kemberling.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a professional cellist in Atlanta, playing regularly as principal cellist with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and arranging music for and playing shows with my cello quartet, Atlanta Celli. I also play the touring shows that come to the Fox Theatre.
My career would have been entirely different had my mother not taken me to go see “The Living Daylights” when I was 10 years old. The teachers at school had been asking us to think of what instrument we might like to play, and since I was mainly concerned with being cool, I wanted to play the saxophone (of course!). However, after I had seen that James Bond movie, I was hit with the realization that the coolest instrument was actually the cello. And, that’s where it all began.
My passion (and my most steady work) is in my studio, teaching mostly adult amateur cellists ranging in age from their mid-20’s to their mid-80’s. I have been teaching for over 20 years and I have found that there are not a lot of teachers who encourage adults to learn to play an instrument, especially one as difficult to master as the cello. But I love teaching adults! Even if they have not ever seen a music note in their life, I can teach them to play. Even people who think they have a tin ear can learn to hear differences in pitch. I have discovered over the years that human beings are capable of learning any new skill, all that is needed is the time and the desire.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My musical education was a bit of a struggle. I am a very good student and an extremely hard worker, but I couldn’t accept the elitist mentality I kept encountering in my studies. It seems that musicians get trapped in a stressful bubble, and they forget that music is a form of communication between human beings. It’s not something we do up in an ivory tower.
It took me a while, but I finally realized that a traditional life in music was not for me.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Room 4 Cello – what should we know?
At my studio, I specialize in teaching adults — adults who played cello as kids and then quit for a while as well as adults who have never played any instrument at all ever. I have a student who just tuned 84 and we were talking the other day about when we first started working together. It turns out that I gave him his first cello lesson when he was 72, just 12 short years ago.
It is very important to balance cello lessons and solo practice with ensemble playing, so I created an all-adult cello choir that meets on the first Saturday of every month. We have a great time playing together and, since we meet at an art studio, we sometimes get our portrait painted while we rehearse!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I am so grateful to my Mom, Rachel Kemberling, who paid for my cello and weekly lessons, listened to the screeching sounds I made at home, endured every orchestra concert I ever participated in and made sure I made it to every audition.
My cello teacher for over 12 years after high school, Martha Gerschefski, fueled my desire to learn as much as I could about ergonomic cello technique. She taught me everything I know — from how to divide practice tasks into manageable chunks to how to maintain my curiosity.
My partner, Scott Lange, has coached me so much over the years! He’s the reason I felt secure enough to start my own studio in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.nancello.com/
Image Credit:
Isadora Pennington, Dan Smigrod, Kenny Gray
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