About me? It’s about you. I’ll explain…
My violin probably cost less than yours.
I used to ask my mom to drop me down the block from youth orchestra rehearsal so other kids wouldn’t see our car.
I know what it feels like to be an underdog.
Bearing that in mind, the common denominator in every equation of your life is you.
Whether you want to teach, play, or live more powerfully, ask yourself if your goals:
1. require you to acquire new skills, resources, and capabilities, or
2. can be accomplished with things you already have and know
This distinction helps my students get unstuck in their practice, teaching, and/or career.
It’s easier to notice external factors than to look within and admit, “I haven’t been scheduling time to sit down and figure out how to practice my scales a better way”, or “I haven’t raised my prices but I could and should”.
I started to notice things within my abilities that I hadn’t been acting on.
I overcame that by teaching more boldly, making more authentic invitations, and leaning into my creative expression.
When I began to show up consistently, I got over the fear of making mistakes and of other people’s judgements. I was able to free myself from past failures and limiting beliefs.
I was then able to finish more projects, practice more efficiently, create more resources, and contribute in deeper ways to the people and causes I care about.
I’m a dad to two kids and I love mountain biking.
The best way to get to know me besides working with me directly is via my blog, Youtube channel, podcast, or email list.
If you think you might want my help, but you’re not sure how, I recommend you simply reach out:)
Ways We Can Work Together:
Musicians and Music Teachers: Take a private lesson, join my weekly group classes, or browse online here.
Presenters: Engage me to perform, teach, or speak here
Freelance Musicians/Teachers & Creatives: Want to make money or improve your career? Explore my career mentoring services here.
Teachers– Explore hosting a residency at your school/studio. Get continuing education online or at a workshop.
Producers & Composers– Hire my team for string arranging and recording.
Arts & Education Enthusiasts: Get involved with nonprofit Creative Strings, to impact music education.
Anyone: Schedule a call with me here, or email chris@christianhowes.com
About Christian Howes: (Short Bio)
Violinist, educator and composer, Christian Howes was voted #1 in the Downbeat Critics Poll (“Rising Stars/Violin”), named among the top three jazz violinists in the JazzTimes critics poll, and nominated for Violinist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist Association. He received the Residency Partner Award through Chamber Music America, earned a USArtists grant through the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and was invited by the U.S. State department to teach and perform as a cultural ambassador twice, in Ukraine and Montenegro. His release on Resonance Records, “Southern Exposure” earned recognition in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Downbeat, Jazz Times, as well as a six-night run at Lincoln Center. His release, “American Spirit” was named among the Best Jazz Albums of 2015″ by the Huffington Post. Howes is the founder of “Creative Strings“, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to expand music education through the creation of online curriculum, an annual summer conference, and dozens of visits to schools annually teaching improvisation, contemporary styles, and related subjects. He endorses Yamaha violins and D’Addario strings. Connect with Christian on Facebook, YouTube, www.christianhowes.com, or www.creativestrings.org
About Christian Howes (Long Bio)
Christian Howes grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where he studied violin through the Suzuki method from the age of five, performed as a soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at age 16, and later earned his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the Ohio State University.
During his teen years he began playing guitar and bass in rock, blues, and fusion bands. At age 20, he began playing violin in gospel church settings. These experiences ultimately led him to pursue a singular goal to become a versatile jazz musician and composer.
Since then, he has gained respect from critics and players alike, establishing himself as a world-class jazz violinist and educator. From 2001-2009, Howes became an in-demand violinist on the New York scene, collaborating with a bevy of top shelf jazz artists, including Les Paul, Greg Osby, D.D. Jackson, Frank Vignola, Joel Harrison, Rez Abbasi, Dafnis Prieto, Spyro Gyra, and a 4-year chair in Bill Evans’ “Soulgrass” band.
Christian was a favorite of Les Paul, with whom he worked closely for 11 years. Following a three-year tenure as Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music and after establishing his “street cred” in New York City, Christian returned to his hometown in order to be close to family and focus on his own projects.
In August 2011, Christian was ranked as the #1 “Rising Star” violinist in the Downbeat Critics Poll and nominated for the Jazz Journalists Association’s “Violinist Of The Year”. In 2012, he was voted among the top three violinists in JazzTimes’ “Expanded Critics Poll“. The same year, he received the Residency Partner Award from Chamber Music America for his educational outreach with school orchestra programs. In 2013 he performed six nights under his own name at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Howes toured Ukraine (June 2014) and Montenegro (Spring 2015) at the invitation of the U.S. State Department, and in conjunction with the USArtists award from the Mid Atlantic Foundation.
After releasing a string of independent releases as a leader, he signed with Resonance Records in 2008 and released four critically acclaimed albums. The first, “Heartfelt”, featuring pianist Roger Kellaway, showcases ballads and lyrical works. “Out of the Blue,” released in 2010, features guitarist Robben Ford, and demonstrates a wide range of sensibilities steeped in the blues. His 2012 release, “Southern Exposure,” featuring accordionist Richard Galliano, draws from a Hispanic sphere of influence. “American Spirit” was released in 2015, garnering a “Best of 2015” recognition from the Huffington Post, among other critical acclaim.
In 2001, he founded the Creative Strings Workshop and Festival, which convenes during the first week of July every year in Columbus, Ohio. Says Howes, “The Creative Strings Workshop and Festival offers string players from Columbus and around the world an opportunity to study improvisation, composition, and styles outside the realm of classical music, while bringing the city of Columbus a plethora of talent and musical energy.” The annual summer conference is now in its 17th year, and draws participants from all corners of the earth, and it has since expanded into satellite locations around the world. Six events will be held in 2019 in Switzerland, Toronto, Dallas, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Asheville, NC.
Howes also launched an online curriculum in 2011, the “Creative Strings Academy,” which is the largest resource of its kind, providing extensive curriculum for string players exploring jazz and improvised music.
In 2014, Christian formalized his educational initiatives with the founding of Creative Strings, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the expansion and improvement of music education. Through Creative Strings, Christian regularly visits school orchestra programs offering residencies combining collaborative performances with interactive clinics, rehearsals, and teacher training. He typically visits over 50 schools annually. Creative Strings also administers the podcast and annual workshops.
Since 2007, he has also built an innovative online production business, which provides live string sections to music producers worldwide via a remote, collaborative orchestra.
His Music Biz Mastermind courses took hold in 2015 and are now offered several times annually, helping working musicians design their careers while growing their impact.
An active blogger, podcaster, and video content creator, he is frequently engaged to speak regarding music education and music business. He has worked with homeless, at-risk, and prison populations, as well as humanities departments at universities, incorporating diverse social causes and character education into his broad, inspirational message.
Downloadable Photos
Click here to download high resolution photos of Christian Howes
My Gear
Electric Violins & Strings:
- Yamaha SV-250 (current electric violin model)
- Yamaha VNP-1 Acoustic Violin Pickup
- D’Addario Helicore and Zyex strings
Amplifiers: Acoustic models, including Fishman Loudbox, Acoustic Image, AER, Trace Elliot Acoustic
Effects Pedal: Boss ME-70
Loop Pedals: Boss RC-300 Loop Station or Ditto Stereo.
For gear-related questions, call my trusted source ElectricViolinShop at 919-806-3311. Their phone support is amazing.
Also see this video or listen to this podcast.