ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY CONCERTMASTER VISITS

Concertmaster Nina Bodnar's teaching style allowed members of a string quartet to laugh at themselves and learn quickly.

"What can I do to light a fire under you?" she asked the second violinist, noting her slow pace on a particular piece. "I guess I'll just play your part. Get up."

The student obediently relinquished her chair, and the lesson went on.

Bodnar, concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, was at Southeast Missouri State University Monday to instruct string students there. Their usual teacher, Adrian Walker, is with the symphony on a Japanese tour.

Bodnar had to miss the tour due to a neck injury, but the symphony's loss became Southeast's gain when she agreed to teach for two days at the university.

Dr. Sterling Cossaboom, chairman of the music department, said students unexpectedly received the opportunity to study with a world-class musician.

"It's not often one shows up at the door and says, `Here I am!'" he said. "These types of things encourage students to look at themselves and see if they want to live their lives as musicians. It's a way of life, a way of thinking about the world."

His sentiments were true of Bodnar, who began studying the violin as an 8-year-old girl in California. She practiced four hours a day, winning competition after competition. At 14, she went to France to study with the masters.

In the United States, Bodnar said, she was "very uncool." In France, she became an instant celebrity because classical music's audience is much younger in Europe.

Bodnar came back to study at the Juilliard School in New York City and perform solo and chamber music in California before taking her position as concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony. She is in her fifth season with the group.

"There's a lot to be said for having a full-time job and the ability to play with such great talents so often," she said. "But there is a lot less freedom musically playing with an orchestra than playing solo."

While Bodnar must lead the group as concertmaster, she must submit to the disciplines of various conductors, she said. It is a delicate balance, and she must be equally comfortable as a leader and follower.

During her five years in St. Louis, Bodnar noticed the level of talent necessary to be in a major symphony getting higher. She not only had to keep on the edge of her field, but also learn to take criticism from conductors as well as reviewers.

She said going back to California to fill in for another teacher reminded her how pleasant teaching can be and made her more anxious to teach Southeast's students what she knows about the violin.

"They should only go into this field if music is what they love with every pore of their being," Bodnar said. "If there is any doubt, don't. It takes a lot of work and is extremely competitive."

Monday was Bodnar's last day of teaching at Southeast for a while. She will rejoin the symphony when her injury heals completely.