References

Collin works with beginning students through more advanced pupils.  His students have been involved in Willamette Falls Symphony, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Junior Symphony of Vancouver, North Oregon Coast Symphony, and state competition in solo and string ensemble.  Some of their thoughts about Collin follow below.

From Anna....

For several seasons I have attended performances of the Oregon Chamber Players and enjoyed the concerts, especially the strings.  The cellos have been my favorite instruments in every piece.  A few months ago I decided to take up the cello and sought out references for an instructor; I spoke with the most favorably mentioned instructor and made arrangements to begin lessons.

It took me several weeks of lessons to realize that the cello player whose music was a factor in my decision to take up the instrument is my very pleasant, patient and excellent teacher.  My beginner's anxiety and my tendency to forget names, coupled with the fact that it simply never occurred to me that a musician of his caliber might actually teach middle-aged beginners, explains my failure to recognize him as the performer whose music I have enjoyed on several occasions over the past few years.
 
Anna
Adult Student

From Mindy....

I had always had a love of music and a deep fondness for the beauty of the cello, but at 44 years old, I had real trepidation at the prospect of taking on a project such as "learning" the cello (the quotation marks are there because learning is a process and never completed!) I had every reason to be apprehensive.  The cello is a difficult instrument to study.  I believe that finding a professional instructor is the most important task for a beginning musician.

I began lessons with Collin in December of 2000, and have remained his student since then.  Collin truly has the heart and soul of a musician, has accomplished so much musically himself and yet possesses such high respect and regard for his students and their unique learning styles and abilities.  He truly nurtures each student at their level while challenging their capabilities.  His patience is extraordinary, his methods innovative, and I feel he honors the goals I set for myself as a musician who is just beginning to find my own voice.  Learning has been a joyful experience and I'm grateful to Collin for his technical abilities, his kind and caring personality, and his sharing of his talents with his students.

Mindy
Adult Student

Email Collin at CollinHeade@aol.com

Collin is the Conductor for the North Oregon Coast Symphony, featured in CoastWeekend (read the article).
 
Collin is also music director for the Astoria Chamber Players (read the article).

 

Find out more about Collin here, or email him at CollinHeade@aol.com.