Professional performer cellist and teacher, with more than 15 years of experience, offers online cello lessons to all ages.

Find out more about Jonathan

• 1) When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  I first encountered the cello when I was 16 years old, playing in a school orchestra. Before that, I was already curious about music and explored it in a self-taught way through piano and guitar. However, the first time I heard the cello within an orchestral setting, I immediately knew I wanted to learn everything about this beautiful instrument.

• 2) Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  That’s a great question. I think listening to any music on a loop will eventually become tiring. That said, within the classical world, I particularly enjoy Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler. Outside of academic music, there are also many artists I deeply admire, such as Queen, Louis Armstrong, and Caetano Veloso.

• 3) Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  I prefer the word challenging rather than difficult. I believe that with patience and self-care, everything is achievable. From that perspective, I focus on areas that are developed throughout a cellist’s entire life—even at a professional level—such as sound control, phrasing, intonation, and musicality. Learning how to integrate all of these elements is what truly makes the difference.

• 4) What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  I don’t believe there is one instrument that is more difficult than the others. Each instrument comes with its own challenges and mysteries. When it comes to string instruments in particular, the challenge lies in controlling the many variables of sound, timbre, and intonation that they offer.

• 5) What are your keys to success?

  Consistency, curiosity, and patience. I strongly believe in long-term growth, maintaining curiosity, and understanding that progress comes from focused, daily work. Listening—both to music and to students—is also a fundamental part of my professional and teaching practice.

• 6) Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  It does sound a bit utopian! I would love to meet Caetano Veloso for his warmth and his profound contribution to South American music. I would also enjoy a conversation with Steven Isserlis, a British cellist known for his great charisma and extraordinary musical sensitivity.

• 7) Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  After taking my final chamber music exam with Maestro Rafael, he asked to speak with me privately. He said, “Jonathan, I think you’re going to need a different kind of cello lessons.” At the time, I misunderstood and assumed my performance had been weak or that I needed significant improvement. It turned out to be quite the opposite. By “a different kind of lessons,” he meant a full scholarship to study with one of the best cello teachers in the country. He was recommending me to a foundation that supports developing musicians—a scholarship I was fortunately able to earn later on.

• 8) What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  Versatility and playfulness. I believe every student is unique, and teaching is, in many ways, about stepping into the student’s perspective. Through the exchange that develops during lessons, my goal is to help each student reach their best version, guided by their values, fears, motivations, and curiosities. This approach encourages healthy, sustainable growth as a musician.