Testimonials
"One thing that has always impressed me [about Jen] is her conscientious teaching. Jen is very painstaking in her approach to working with the children she teaches. . . . She has become very astute at being able to recognize playing problems in her students and the methods of correcting those problems."
Michael A. Palumbo, Professor of Viola, Weber State University
"I would highly recommend Jennifer Sova as an elementary orchestra teacher. My children had private lessons from her as they attended the Weber State Strings project for 3 years. She is so great and did not give in to their excuses. She is firm and loving and very gifted in pitch and hearing what is being played. I could always tell who Jen taught in an orchestra because of the way they sat and played. She knows what it takes to develop a strings musician. You can have great confidence in her knowledge and talent!! My daughter Rachael is a fabulous strings musician, and Jen was her first private teacher."
LoriAnn Garner, North Ogden, UT
"Jennifer Sova is a wonderfully gifted artist and teacher. She taught my daughter for several years and was instrumental in her achievement of gaining a WSU scholarship because of how wonderfully she tutored Tina on her viola. I am very grateful for Jen's skill and expertise as a player and a teacher. She also helped us to pick Tina's first owned (not rented) instrument and it continues to be a high quality pick that has not been replaced even after several years in college symphony. I highly recommend Jennifer to anyone desiring to learn and excel in the art of stringed instruments."
Robin Nielson, Syracuse, UT
"My daughter took violin lessons from Jen for several years—starting when she was 9 yrs old. Jen was patient, consistent, dependable and structured. She inspired my daughter and held her to a high standard and helped to open many doors for her. My daughter is now 17 years old and performs at a professional level. She has played with Utah Youth Symphony and was Concert Master last year for the Bonneville Youth Orchestra. She plans on attending Weber State University next year with a scholarship in Music and Performing Arts. I attribute much of her success to Jen’s teaching skills. I would highly recommend Jen to anyone who would like to take their instruction to a higher level."
Jen Kirchhoefer, Layton, UT
"Jenn is an awesome teacher! Before I started studying with Jenn, I had gone as far as I could go. Jenn provided the motivation and skills I needed to improve. Without her, I wouldn't be where I am today in my playing. I would recommend her to anyone."
Serena Bird, West Haven, UT
"Jen has been a great teacher for Serena. Serena had played for several years in school orchestra and the WSU String Project, but had never had private lessons. Because Serena was already a junior in high school, Jen spent extra time with her, many times over the allotted lesson time. I appreciated her special attention. Jen even went to Peter Priers in Salt Lake with us to help Serena get a correct set-up for her instrument. Because of Jen's extra effort, within a year, Serena was accepted into both the Bonneville Youth Sympony and also as a student of Dr. Palumbo at WSU. After graduation, Serena received a 1/2 scholarship to WSU where she has been working on a music teaching minor and also as a string project teacher. It's not many teachers that try to teach themselves out of a job. Jen really had Serena's best interests at heart. Kudos to a great teacher! Thanks, Jen!"
Pamela Bird, West Haven, UT
"In 2006, when my daughter, Nichole, was in 3rd grade at Fielding Elementary, a note was sent home about an after school orchestra program that would be held at Harris Intermediate School twice a week. My daughter and I attended the orientation meeting and listened to Jennifer Sova explain the program. We were both excited and signed Nichole up to play violin. What she experienced through that program was fantastic. When I attended the concert for the after school program, I was amazed at what these beginning orchestra students had been taught and how they sounded. Mrs. Sova offered private lessons [at no cost] for the summer for any students who were interested. I signed Nichole up for private lessons and her progress continued at an even more rapid rate. The thing that impressed me most was how much Mrs. Sova truly cared about her students. She really just wanted to share music with them and help them not only develop skill, but a love for their instrument as well. I was very shocked and sad when I found out her contract had not been renewed at that time. The after school program was done away with and my daughter was devastated. I signed her up for private lessons with another teacher and my feelings about Mrs. Sova were confirmed when the teacher told her that she had been taught very well. We reconnected with Mrs. Sova a couple of years ago when we found out she had moved back to Cache Valley and Nichole started private lessons with her again. Again, it was a very positive experience. She teaches because she loves it. She is great with students and always goes above and beyond to make sure they get the attention they need. I would highly recommend her as a teacher in any capacity. You would be lucky to have her."
Josi Hinkle, Riverside, UT
"My daughter Leah has loved her time in orchestra at our charter school (Oquirrh Mountain Charter School). Mrs. Sova has spent so much personal time teaching Leah and taking time to follow up with her progress. She has inspired Leah to practice not only the required time but additional time on the violin as well. Three of my four children play string instruments, and no one has been able to reach any of my children and inspire them like Mrs. Sova. She goes beyond what is required or expected. She loves teaching the string instruments, orchestra, and students of orchestra and it shows! We are so going to miss her as our orchestra teacher and private violin teacher. She is professional and incredible. We wish her all the best with her future orchestra students. We know she will be a success as she has been here at O.M.C.S."
Nina Esplin, Kaysville, UT
"My son, Tim, has been in the Oquirrh Mountain Charter School Orchestra this year. At first, I was reluctant to let him join because he has ADHD. However, he was able to successfully learn to play the viola in a short time. He has done so well, and I attribute much of that to his orchestra teachers, Mrs. Sova and Mrs. Young. It was difficult for him to remember to practice and go to school one hour early twice a week, but he was determined. When he wouldn't practice on his own, I threatened him that I would make him quit. He would tell me he would do better, and he continued the lessons.
He loved the classes and teachers. We even took advantage of the opportunity that Mrs. Sova gave us to take a couple of free lessons on a Saturday at her home. Mrs. Sova is a wonderful teacher. She is very professional and, because she loves orchestra and teaching so much, she would do anything to help the students do their best. She also taught them some concert etiquette, which was very impressive to many of the parents.
Mrs. Sova is one of the most devoted teachers I have ever met. She sacrificed her time and energy to make sure that the students learned to play their instrument. The students could feel her love for music and for them as well. She was able to overcome obstacles and negative opinions to organize the gathering of charter schools at Weber State University. She is totally devoted to her love of music and teaching others to love it as she does. I highly recommend Mrs. Sova for any position that she applies for. She will be greatly missed at our school."
Toni Hansen
"My wife and I both play violin and have for years. Our son, Kenji, showed interest in the violin at an early age but getting him excited about practicing and the skills needed to become proficient were proving to be a challenge. He was just in first grade, and we wanted him to be able to play in the orchestra and learn some skills in this area. He was accepted into the orchestra and because of Jennifer's commitment to seeing him through his first days, months, and year of orchestral experience, Kenji has become proficient and was even recognized and given the highest award for achievement and skills at his school. . . . We are very sad to lose her in moving but want to offer our complete and total support as a teacher of music and one who truly embodies who a teacher is and what they stand for."
Joshua Prince, Syracuse, UT
"Thank you so very much for organizing and funding the party at the fun park today. The kids had so much fun, and it was so nice of you to help them create a fun social experience outside of school, and reward them for working to pass off their pieces. Thank you for your dedication to my child, and to the orchestra program. I am amazed at the time and effort you dedicate to our kids. I can tell you care about them, and genuinely want them to learn to love music, and to learn correct practices. I appreciate the rewards, the Mozart Money, the charts to help them know what they need to pass off, the time spent logging their practice minutes, the time spent sending us fun music to learn that keeps [my son] wanting to play, the links to cool videos, and orchestra performances. If I could dream up a perfect orchestra teacher, I couldn't imagine anyone doing any more than you do. I want you to know that you have helped [my son] learn not only techniques of how to play and the basics of reading music, you have also helped him learn discipline, responsibility, and a love for music that I always hoped he would have. I truly appreciate you and all you do."
Marie Medrano, Nibley, UT
"I am writing in regards to what Jennifer Sova has done for my daughters. I can't say enough about her ability to motivate and encourage and teach children.
I have twin daughters who play viola and cello. Mrs. Sova teaches violin and viola private lessons. I was fortunate to secure a spot in her studio for my viola player. Meanwhile, I had signed up the other twin for another more expensive teacher who taught cello. In the very first lesson, Mrs. Sova had Hannah playing a song holding her bow and all kinds of exercises for Hannah to go home and begin playing her viola. The other teacher had my cello player practice sitting up and holding her bow and no songs. After three lessons of how to sit properly and hold the bow and still no songs, I could see the enthusiasm for the instrument dramatically fall. I begged Mrs. Sova to please take on my cello player as I knew she had taught orchestras before. She did with the condition that I find another teacher within the year. Mrs. Sova was incredible with both girls. When I changed a year later to a cello private teacher, that teacher couldn't believe that my daughter had only been playing a year. She had nothing but praise for my daughter, and didn't have any bad habits to correct. Not only does my daughter Mariah have a hunger to play, her current teacher says that she can play anything put in front of her--all because her first teacher, Mrs Sova, instilled such a hunger to learn and made it fun at the same time.
I highly recommend Mrs Sova as an incredible inspiring teacher who loves her students."
Linda Daines, Nibley, UT
"My daughter has been a student of Jennifer Sova for 2 yrs. now. We were fortunate enough to work with her through the Mountain West Strings Academy in an elementary setting. During that time, I witnessed a miraculous change in my daughter's development both musically and academically. I credit this to the passion that Mrs. Sova shares with her students. She teaches in a way that made sense to my daughter, she offered incentives and challenges for her growth. Her classroom management was stellar. She allowed all students to reach the highest potential possible. Since that time she started her own Youth Orchestra & private lessons which increased my
daughter's confidence immensely! (All this while sacrificing much personally & financially). I believe Mrs. Sova will be a great asset to ANY music department, and those around her will develop a higher passion for the arts through her teaching."
Elaine T. Olsen, Nibley, UT
"Jennifer was the Orchestra teacher at my child’s school [Wilson Elementary] during the 2012-2013 school year. Jennifer went way above and beyond the duties of her job to make sure the kids learned how to play their instruments. She was tremendous in emailing the parents every week so the parents knew what was going on. In addition to doing her required class times, she made herself available for after class hours to help students who needed help. She is a very hard worker, and would come highly recommended from my experience with her teaching my child."
Randy Reese, Logan, UT