Clive Greensmith
Artist biography

Clive Greensmith

Clive Greensmith is Professor of cello at The Colburn School and former cellist of the celebrated Tokyo String Quartet.

About 

Clive Greensmith

Clive Greensmith has a distinguished career as soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. From 1999 until 2013 he was a member of the world-renowned Tokyo String Quartet, giving over one hundred performances each year in the most prestigious international venues, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, London’s Southbank Centre, Paris Châtelet, Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Musikverein, and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. As a soloist, he has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, and the RAI Orchestra of Rome. He has also performed at Marlboro Music Festival, La Jolla Summerfest, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, the Ravinia Festival, the Salzburg Festival, Edinburgh Festival, and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. Over 25 years, he has built up a catalogue of landmark recordings, most notably the complete Beethoven string quartet cycle for Harmonia Mundi with the Tokyo String Quartet. He studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in England with American cellist Donald McCall. He continued his studies at the Cologne Musikhochschule in Germany with Boris Pergamenschikow. After his 15-year residency with the Tokyo String Quartet at Yale University, he was appointed Professor of Cello at the Colburn School in Los Angeles in 2014. In 2019, he became the artistic director of the Nevada Chamber Music Festival and was appointed director of chamber music master classes at the Chigiana International Summer Academy in Siena, Italy. Mr. Greensmith is a founding member of the Montrose Trio with pianist Jon Kimura Parker and violinist Martin Beaver.

Watch a free lesson with

Clive Greensmith

Click below to access your free flute lesson! When you're ready for more, start your 14-day free trial of tonebase to unlock 100s of flute courses, weekly live workshops, a vibrant community, and more!

Learn from

Clive Greensmith

 and other renowned musicians

Start your 14-day free trial of tonebase today to unlock 100s of music courses, weekly live workshops, a vibrant community, and more!

Enter tonebase Music

Everything you need to play your favorite pieces with more confidence, deepen your understanding of music in general, and grow as an artist, passionate hobbyist or educator.

Theory & Ear Training

  • Harmony & Counterpoint – Identify chord progressions, master scales, and gain a deeper understanding of the music around you.
  • Analysis – Discover how your favorite pieces work beneath the surface.
  • Ear Training – Recognize intervals, chords, and nuances to sharpen everything from improvisation to sight-reading.

History & Appreciation

  • Historical Eras – Understand music from the baroque to the music of today.
  • Influential Figures – Learn about the composers and innovators who shaped music across centuries.
  • Understanding Context – Learn about various genre’s and forms, where did they come from,  and why do they sound the way they do.

Performance & Practice Strategies

  • Effective Practice Routines – Maximize progress with proven techniques used and taught by world-class artists.
  • Performance Prep & Mindset – Overcome stage fright, refine your interpretation, and perform with confidence.
  • Audition Prep – Nail your next audition, whether it’s for school or a professional orchestra.

Essential Instruments & Methods

  • Foundational Instruments - Begin or refresh your chops with introductory conducting, piano, and vocal lessons.
  • Proven Methods - Alexander Technique to improve your posture and reduce stress, Kodály for developing the ear, and much more.
  • Pedagogical Approaches - For educators: strategies for classroom management, commanding an ensemble, or running a private studio.

Composition & Arranging

  • Craft Original Pieces – Learn how to translate the ideas from your head to the page. Write your first piece or hone your unique voice with essential compositional techniques.
  • Reimagine Existing Works – Introduction to orchestration and arrangement to transform your favorite music for yourself or new ensembles.
  • Notation - Learn the art of how to present music on the page and software like Sibelius.

Recording & Technology

  • Recording Essentials – Master setup, mic placement, and capture techniques for a clean and professional sound.
  • Music Production & DAWs – Mix your session or create new tracks with programs like Logic.
  • Video Editing – We’re in the age of video: Harness the latest technology to better share your talents with the world.

Now Until Friday: 45% Off 🔥

Choose your plan below to start your free trial and lock in your discount before it’s too late!
Suscríbete y Ahorra
Anual
Mensual

Anual

$
30
16.50
/mes
Facturado a $198 anualmente
Únete a más de 25K Miembros Activos

Mensual

Mensual

$
60
33
/mes
Facturado mensualmente
Únete a más de 25K Miembros Activos
Paga Una Vez, Acceso Para Siempre
¡Obtén acceso ilimitado de por vida!

De por vida

$
895
493
/una vez
Facturado solo una vez
Únete a más de 25K Miembros Activos
Todos los planes incluyen:
  • checkmark icon
    Acceso ilimitado por 14 días de prueba gratuita
  • checkmark icon
    Garantía de satisfacción completa de 90 días
  • checkmark icon
    Acceso a más de 500 lecciones y cursos en video
  • checkmark icon
    Contenido del curso estructurado y guiado
  • checkmark icon
    PDFs de trabajo y partituras anotadas gratuitos
  • checkmark icon
    Retroalimentación de nuestra Comunidad activa
  • checkmark icon
    Bonificación: La Herramienta de Práctica Definitiva

"No me arrepiento en absoluto de haber gastado el dinero en la membresía. Hay algo para cada músico en tonebase – Te recomiendo que lo pruebes."

Photo of Dave
Dave McLellan

Concertista & Músico de cámara

Únete a más de 10,000 músicos que mejoran cada día en tonebase.