Stephen Shipps

by Barbara Zmich

Violin in hand and warmed up before most of his students were even awake, violinist Stephen Shipps showed me in to his studio at the University of Michigan School of Music one recent Wednesday morning. “Wednesdays are generally a little easier for me,” he said with a smile. “I don't start teaching until later in the day. But an upcoming tour with the Meadowmount Piano Trio is wreaking havoc with my schedule!”

Major positions with leading orchestras, including Cleveland and Dallas, preceded Shipps' shift to a teaching career. “I went back to school to get my Master's degree under my mentor, Josef Gingold. I'm constantly thinking of him when I teach.” Gingold's influence on Shipps is profound. “The remarkable thing about him was that he could explain anything, and play it, too! He was unique in being both a great teacher and a real performer.”

Shipps has been an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan's renowned School of Music since the fall of 1989. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he also performs regularly at faculty recitals such as the November 14th Michigan Chamber Players concert at Rackham Auditorium sponsored by the University Musical Society.

Stephen Shipps owns a 1993 Joseph Curtin violin which he plays frequently in both his teaching studio and on stage. “I also have an Andrea Guarneri, which sounds great, but it's not as stable in changing weather.”

Hundreds of historical violin recordings line the walls of the Shipps studio. “I feel it is extremely important that my students know the history of the violin. Kreisler, Elman, Heifetz...we have to recognize our lineage. Gingold was a student of Ysaye, so you'll hear a lot of Ysaye in my studio classes. I also teach a lot of short pieces, though it doesn't seem fashionable at the moment.

“I want my students to be employable when they graduate,” says Shipps. “I want to train people who can work. I'll send them anywhere I can during the summers, both for the musical rewards and to observe first-hand how fierce the competition is.”

As I left Shipps' studio, a student came to the door in tears. “Oh no! Are you having a hard day already?” Shipps asked with real compassion. So much for his easy morning!