Student Spotlight: Ethan Myles

"Sarah’s belief in him has made his self-esteem soar. I’ve seen him recommit to the instrument in a really beautiful way. " -Cree Myles, Ethan's mother.

Fifteen-year-old Ethan Myles studies violin with Dr. Sarah Plum at the Music Institute of Chicago, and his skills, confidence, and love for music continue to grow.

His interest in the violin began after watching the 2016 movie High Strung. "That’s the first time I remember seeing a violin," Ethan said. "I begged my mom for six months to get one for me. She finally got me one for Christmas."

Ethan’s mother, Cree, says enrolling him in lessons was an easy decision. “I grew up in a really musical family. My husband, Ethan’s stepdad, is a jazz pianist, my brother graduated from Oberlin with a degree in bass, and my father tours the world with a Blues band. It truly was a no-brainer – just a matter of what was most interesting to him. Learning about the classical music world has been fun.”

She has also seen his growth with the help of his teacher. "Sarah’s belief in him has made his self-esteem soar. I’ve seen him recommit to the instrument in a really beautiful way.”

Ethan describes the experience as “fun and intense” with plenty to learn. He has also noticed growth beyond the practice room. “It has built a sense of confidence and discipline inside me,” he said. That confidence is part of what fuels his love for playing. “It makes me feel very powerful when I’m playing well.”

Performing has played a key role in Ethan's growth. One highlight was performing a Mozart string quartet at a summer strings program, a moment he is especially proud of. He has also learned from performances that did not go as planned, turning them into valuable learning experiences. “In a performance a while back, I had a bad memory slip, and it made me realize the importance of preparing your music well before performances.”

His mom finds those moments especially meaningful as Ethan learns valuable life lessons through music. “Sometimes you will work as hard as you can and still, you won’t get the outcome you want. I think that’s a really important thing to learn early because that’s how life works," Cree says. "It builds resilience and in a way builds confidence. The knowledge that if it doesn’t work out how you want it, you’ll still be ok. That’s important.”

When he’s not practicing, Ethan enjoys going on walks, reading comic books, and playing video games. Music is central to his family life, from dance parties at home to trips to the symphony, and he recently attended his first hip-hop concert to see Tyler the Creator. These experiences, alongside his violin studies, continue to shape his love of music.

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