Teacher Profile: Mikaila Gaffey
About Mikaila Gaffey
Mikaila grew up in New York and began playing the violin at 9 years old. Shortly thereafter, she started competing in local competitions, quickly becoming known in the area for her classical training. For the next 7 years, she repeatedly qualified for county, city, and state competitions—earning a spot in the New York Allstate Orchestra during her sophomore year of high school.
Upon graduating, Mikaila matriculated at Columbia University in The City of New York at the age of 16. She belonged to the Division 1 Women’s Swim Team and was a part of the Music Performance Program at Columbia. Mikaila continued taking lessons under Juilliard’s adjunct professors, honing in on her artistry and expansive knowledge of the violin. During this time, Mikaila also began sharing her skills with the community and teaching children in the NYC area.
Over the years, Mikaila has taught countless children and adults from all backgrounds. She believes in cultivating a love in her students not only for the violin, but music as well. Her mantra—proper technique leads to great sound—lays a foundation for students to learn any violin style a piece of music may require. More than anything, in her practice, Mikaila endeavors to instill an affable mental attitude towards learning. Competing also as a professional athlete in swimming, Mikaila knows the importance of developing a positive attitude towards success and failure alike—all necessary qualities to succeed. During her tenure at Columbia University as student-athlete and musician, Mikaila perfected the time management skills needed to balance all aspects of life; working now to pass her knowledge down to her students.
Mikaila tailors each of her lessons to the student’s individual needs. She understands that though there are few immovable cornerstones of learning the violin, every student absorbs information differently; consequently, requiring a personalized approach. Mikaila has an infectious personality that will draw her students in and provide them with the most positive learning experience possible!