Comments about Soh-Hyun Altino’s teaching.
(Students’ comments about violin lesson were given anonymously at semesterly evaluations.)
Wheaton College, Conservatory of Music (2021-)
Spring 2023
Lessons with Dr. Altino make it clear to me that my journey as a musician is inseparable from my journey as a Christian.
My relationship with Dr. Altino surpasses those relationships I have with other instructors. She is someone who has invested into helping me not only with my personal struggles related to music but also in so many areas outside music. I cherish having her as an instructor.
Dr. Altino is well-aware of the spiritual reality musicians struggle with as well as the mental and physical struggles.
Dr. Altino organizes the semester with every student so that we can be successful in our performance goals. She will take time out of her schedule to help us achieve these goals as well.
I appreciate Dr. Altino's ability to give feedback knowing what her students’ goals are, how much progress they have made, what they are capable of doing, and what kind of feedback they are ready to receive. I appreciate her directness and take it as a compliment that she believes that I am able to achieve more.
Dr. Altino is respectful in regard to diversity matters, and she will on occasion lead a discussion on these topics which helps me think more critically about them.
She demonstrates a dedication to excellence and a concern for the entire student (not just as violinist) and truly models Christian education. She has high expectations and can be intense, but moderates all with her caring concern and humor.
She is organized, passionate, and driven. I feel supported and pushed forward.
Dr. Altino is very helpful in assessing problems with posture causing tension and affecting technique. She pushes her students to strive for excellence and keeps each student accountable.
She is dedicated to helping me in any and all areas of my life.
Fall 2022
Dr. Altino uses her Christian worldview as the starting point for everything we do. Instead of trying to "add" in the Christian perspective to our subject matter, the subject matter is built on the Christian worldview.
Dr. Altino is incredibly skilled at approaching issues in violin playing through a variety of techniques and explanations suited for different types of learners. She doesn’t shy away from hard topics!
Dr. Altino shows a thorough knowledge of the violin repertoire. She chooses pieces that fit well to skills we are working on. She always knows when my fingerings are ineffective, demonstrating her detailed knowledge of the music.
Dr. Altino is punctual and very well-organized. She is a very forward-thinking teacher and regularly helps her students organize their lives as well.
The selection of pieces and pacing was well tailored to my progress. Dr. Altino organizes our work together in order to challenge me but not to be overwhelming.
Dr. Altino is very creative in helping me understand things. She manages to come up with vivid analogies to other areas of my life to help me understand why what I'm learning is important. If I don't understand something, she always comes up with another way to explain it.
I always know what is expected of me and what to expect. Dr. Altino is a clear and effective communicator.
Dr. Altino is really good at giving accurate feedback. She is one of the few instructors I have met who have mastered the ability to provide positive reinforcement while also pointing out the aspects of a performance that can improve. I find this to be effective and inspiring.
Dr. Altino clearly cares not just about my music but about me as a person. She always offers a listening ear, and she helps me apply my musical skills to the rest of my life.
Dr. Altino is not afraid to engage in meaningful conversations about diversity. She shows great respect for even those that she may disagree with.
Everyone in the studio feels loved by Dr. Altino. Our relationship feels familial, and she regularly shows great interest and concern about all aspects of our lives. She is incredibly loved and respected by her students.
Spring 2022
Dr. Altino is never at a loss for how to help my playing. She not only can identify what is wrong but can quickly adapt the way she teaches it if I don’t seem to understand it right away.
Dr. Altino makes it clear that the students as people are her priority. I can tell she wants us all to succeed in everything we do past the time we spend with her and she will go out of her way to support us.
Dr. Altino met me where I was and was patient with me when I struggled to improve. She reminded me why I loved violin and encouraged me not to give up when I struggled to practice or improve.
She is deeply caring for her students both in and outside of music-making.
She is a wonderful person, pusher, encourager, violinist, and teacher. I have learned so much, and I've been challenged so much as well!
Fall 2021
Dr. Altino cares about what is going on in my life beyond just my practicing the violin. I can talk to her when something is bothering me.
She took the time to get to know me personally and supported me through some personal challenges this semester.
Dr. Altino operates out of the lessons learned from a Christian worldview and applies it to the topics being taught in violin lessons.
She notices so many areas where I can improve, even down to things like the way I stand, and she relates the music to its context so I can understand and interpret it better.
Dr. Altino has a very thorough understanding of course materials. She also goes above and beyond by researching to understand more and re-evaluating her current understanding of the course materials.
Dr. Altino regularly discusses how violin can relate to faith and also does a great job of keeping our priorities centered on God.
She goes above and beyond her job as a lesson teacher to get to know her students. I can tell that this is motivated out of an organic love for her students as people.
Dr. Altino showed that she cared about her students’ success with music as well as their overall wellbeing while adapting to college life and classes. She creates a warm environment where her students know that they are welcome to seek out support for both music and everyday issues.
She helped me understand what I needed to change in my playing and was patient when I didn't understand. Also, as a non-music major, I really appreciated that Dr. Altino allowed me flexibility with how much music I could learn.
She is so knowledgeable about violin pedagogy, and she applies that knowledge in an intelligent, uncompromising, and personally edifying way.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mead Witter School of Music (2015 - 2021)
Fall 2019 (Junior-Senior)
Dr. Altino is definitely one of the smartest and most proactive professors at the School of Music, if not in the entire UW-Madison. She truly shares her love and passion for music and harmony with everyone she interacts with. She's bringing great and positive change to the many years of inactive school of music involvement that preceded her. I'm extremely grateful to be able to work with her and have her guidance in my life.
Professor Altino is the best teacher and person in the School of Music. She has created a strong studio by motivating her students and taking so much personal responsibility for their growth. Most of her students didn't come in with technique or artistry, and even after a few months the change is ridiculously tangible. And somehow, she still manages to be funny, personable, and completely invested in every single student despite having such a large studio. All the students know this; all the faculty know this. She deserves all the honors, awards, or whatever you can give her. Please continue to support her because she just keeps on giving.
Spring 2019 (Freshman-Sophomore)
Dr. Altino supports students both in our musical/academic and personal lives. We are so lucky to have a flexible, interactive, supportive, and talented professor in our music school. She pushes students as far as she knows they are capable, and in this way her students greatly improve in their variety of skills in an impressively short time. She caters to each student's personal situation and knows exactly what will help them grow as musicians. She is also very supportive with mental health and stress coping, and lessening chances of injury.
Professor Altino is an incredible instructor and person. Her care for students is astounding, and I know she is one of the best professors I will have had the privilege to study with. She has so much compassion for her students and always wants them to do their best. She is such a knowledgeable pedagogue and instructor, and I feel like she sees such a clear path of where she wants me to go and how she can help me get there. Her dedication to her students and craft is truly inspiring.
I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Altino. She clearly cares about all her students and takes it upon herself to teach her students about professional life within and beyond the music world. Dr. Altino has solutions to just about any problem and is a gifted performer and teacher.
Fall 2018 (Freshman-Sophomore)
An amazing teacher with such amazing energy, passion, and care for her students! I have learned so much to better my musicianship and myself as a whole person. I am pushed to find my own confidence and keep growing.
Spring 2018 (Freshman-Sophomore)
Dr. Altino is the greatest ever. I love how she holds those she cares about accountable and how much she invests into each of our lives for our growth and enrichment. I'm so thankful for her and all she's done for this school. She's the reason I'm here.
Fall 2017 (Freshman-Sophomore)
It has been a privilege to work with Professor Altino this semester. It is obvious that she is so dedicated to teaching and to her students. She is such a talented musician and has extensive knowledge about violin technique. She makes sure that all of her students know how to play correctly so they won’t injure themselves, and she also makes sure they know how to play musically and enjoy themselves while playing. I feel so lucky to study with her!
Altino is everything I have needed in my first-semester freshman year, and I am completely confident that she will continue to benefit my learning and playing throughout my four years.
Very grateful to be a member of this studio and studying with Prof. Altino!
10/10 :)
Fall 2017 (Junior-Senior)
Prof. Altino is one of the best instructors I have ever had! She shows genuine care not only in my performance and playing but my overall well-being. I will miss her when I graduate.
There's is no other teacher in the school of music who consistently dedicates themselves to each individual student, not just in the establishment of lasting personal relationships, but in students' qualitative and quantitative growth. She changes people by giving individuals what they need most, and always pushing them towards higher standards of listening and performing. I'm a triple major, and Professor Altino is hands-down the greatest teacher I have ever had in any area.
Fall 2017 (Masters)
My thought process and attention to the violin has changed dramatically in my time with Dr. Altino. She has a gift for identifying practice and performance issues quickly and offering creative and patient solutions. She makes every student feel special and taken care of. She's an invaluable resource to the string area here at UW-Madison.
Professor Altino is always very enthusiastic about helping her students. She does a great job identifying what each individual needs to work on and clearly explains the problems and the solutions. I have felt this both in my own lessons, and also in the studio class. I really appreciate her dedication to teaching!
Dr. Altino has gone above and beyond for me this semester. I was in an emotional and mental rough patch due to injury but was dragged out of the patch into a refocused and freshly organized state of mind. If not for her, I would likely be very off track for my goals in my degree.
Amazing teacher! She inspires me every week to be a better violinist, musician, and human being.
Fall 2017 (Doctoral)
I love Prof. Altino. She is more than just a violin prof. She is family and makes me truly love studying the violin.
She consistently provides appropriate challenges to each student, wherever they are in their playing. An effective blend of practical and philosophical instruction. A fantastic teacher of violin and chamber music but also a wonderful mentor overall.
Dr. Altino has shown all of us her extreme dedication and commitment. It's incredible to see each student's progress over the semester and that Dr. Altino is able to pinpoint helpful details specifically to each student. I look forward to my lessons every week because I know I will have a lesson with someone that encourages me to do my best and learn as much as possible in the most compassionate way. UW-Madison is lucky to have such a hard-working and devoted teacher.
Fall 2016 (Freshman-Sophomore)
Professor Altino is such a wonderful teacher, and it is my privilege to study with her. Her love for music is apparent in every lesson, and her patience with and care for all of us is remarkable. I am so very grateful to have the opportunity to study with her.
Dr. Altino does not only make lessons interesting and informative, but she also makes the learning process that of discovery as she guides you in the right direction. She is also very supportive and encouraging.
Fall 2016 (Masters)
Absolutely wonderful professor and teacher. I have learned so much in such a short time and have seen very tangible progress and change in both my playing ability and my thinking.
