Violists and colleagues, Wes Dyring and Mara Gearman (center left and right), with her Key to Change viola students Jaclynn, Ciku, Tyree, and Jake (left to right)
Seattle Symphony violist Wes Dyring led a masterclass featuring Mara Gearman’s viola students at Key to Change on July 14, 2026. Mr. Dyring and Mara are longtime friends and colleagues at the Seattle Symphony, where they have performed together for many years.
A veteran performer and educator, Dyring brings decades of professional experience to his teaching. In addition to his 40-year tenure with the Seattle Symphony, he has performed with the Orquesta Filarmónica (Santiago, Chile), Columbus Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and Aspen Music Festival.
The evening had the atmosphere of a chamber concert, drawing a full audience of students, families, and supporters. Dyring listened carefully to each student’s performance before tailoring his coaching to their individual needs. Throughout the class, he also explained his teaching process to the audience, making the experience engaging not only for the performers but for everyone in attendance.
His instruction addressed a wide range of musical and technical concepts. He worked with Jake Lee on developing a more natural vibrato, helped Ciku Maina shape musical phrases, refined Tyree Carr III’s intonation, and coached Jaclynn Pham on improving her bow hold. In every lesson, Dyring encouraged students to identify their musical goals, recognize the technical challenges standing in their way, and discover efficient, expressive solutions.
Ciku’s performance of music by J.S. Bach offered a particularly memorable example. The technically and musically demanding work features sweeping arpeggios and intricate bow patterns that require both precision and musical imagination. Dyring encouraged Ciku to use momentum more naturally and to give every phrase a clear sense of direction and arrival.
To illustrate his point, he offered a memorable analogy: the end of a musical phrase should resemble dropping a bag of rice onto the floor. It should arrive with confidence and finality, without bouncing back. Young musicians, especially when performing for a guest artist and an audience, often rush into the next phrase before fully completing the previous musical thought. Dyring encouraged Ciku to allow each phrase to settle naturally in the listener’s ear before moving forward. He also demonstrated how subtle inflections could help the melody emerge from music that might otherwise sound repetitive or understated.
Throughout the 90-minute masterclass, Dyring emphasized the importance of practicing in a way that allows performances to be achieved with minimal physical effort and maximum musical expression. He demonstrated how unnecessarily lifting the fingers wastes energy and interrupts the continuity of a musical phrase. By organizing technique thoughtfully and planning movements in advance, he showed how efficient playing ultimately gives musicians greater freedom to communicate expressively on stage.
A similar principle emerged in his discussion of bow distribution. Young players often make bowing decisions based on what feels easiest at the moment. Experienced musicians, however, think several notes ahead, using the bowing strategically to shape the musical lines. Rather than allowing technique to dictate interpretation, Dyring demonstrated how thoughtful technical preparation allows the music itself to lead every artistic decision.
Dyring’s teaching was thoughtful, practical, and highly individualized. His ability to combine technical precision with expressive artistry reflected the very qualities Key to Change seeks to cultivate in every student: excellence, artistry, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Wes Dyring works with with Jake on vibrato movement (left) and Jaclynn on bow fingering (right)
If you would like to support transformative educational experiences like this for our students, we invite you to learn more about Key to Change and attend one of our upcoming performances. Register for our free Summer Student Concert on Saturday, August 15 and experience firsthand the remarkable progress these students have made as they bring their hard work to the stage at our Renton studio.
