San Francisco Music Lessons
Meet Our Teachers
All the teachers at FP have graduated from Music Conservatory and have completed First Principles special training and mission alignment. This means all our teachers are not only musically talented, but have also honed their compassion, problem solving, and interpersonal knowledge to meet each student as they are.
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First Principle's main goal is to impart upon students a well rounded and holistic relationship with music and their instrument.
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Cooper Grosscup
Born in ’94 and hailing from Chico California, Cooper Grosscup composes music for his friends and colleagues in the Bay Area and beyond. He studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under David Conte, where he has focused on composing modern works in a classical style. He is also a sought after piano teacher privately and at the Hamlin School as well as an app developer for the music pedagogy app, MusicianShip. As one of Insight’s resident composers, he strives to write music that opens people’s hearts and minds. As a dedicated educator he aims to connect audiences with their curiosity and bring them closer to the music.
Leah Froyd
Violinist, Leah Froyd hails from Denver, Colorado where she has earned recognition as a soloist, chamber musician and arts humanitarian. Ms. Froyd graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of violinist, Ian Swensen. Trading coasts, Leah entered into the Master of Music Degree program at the Longy School of Music of Bard College as a Roman and Melanie Totenberg Scholar where she was the teaching assistant to Paula Majerfeld. During her studies in Boston, Ms. Froyd served as assistant Principal 2nd of the Lyrica Citizen’s Artist Orchestra as well as the organization’s managing director specializing in collaborations with the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless and other local shelters. Now, in San Francisco, Ms. Froyd runs and teaches First Principles Music School with her partner Cooper Grosscup. She is also the Founder and Director of Insight Chamber Players, an educational chamber music collective.
Teaching Philosophy
I am an enthusiastic and compassionate violin and viola teacher focused on deepening the quality of many young students who are at the beginning or intermediate levels of their musical journey. I have cultivated a curriculum based around not only their musical artistry, interpretation, and technique, but one that is also deeply rooted in the fundamentals of music theory and musicianship skills so that they can unlock the skills to express their voices at their fullest capacities.
My methodology does not take a single linear route-- it is tailored to the individual needs and interests of the student. I draw from a series of different method and song books so that my students can become the most well-rounded musicians they can be. I have had students from all different kinds of musical and socioeconomic backgrounds and have become skilled at inferring the workload and lesson pace that is the most enjoyable for each student. Although my students have learned diverse repertoire spanning from classical to pop music, each one receives a portion of their lesson that is dedicated to learning the principals of music theory, such as rhythm, dictation and aural skills which provides them with the tools to form their own well informed musical voices and ideas.
It is extremely important to me to engage and include all students by captivating their interest in music. As artists, we are often too concerned about the possibility of growth ahead of us and don’t take enough time to appreciate the progress we have made. In my studio community, both perspectives are prominent: I like to create a healthy sense of self-motivation towards progress as well as a nurturing community of peers to support each other.