Amainah Ma

Aminah is a passionate cellist with 20+ years of performance experience and multiple international competition awards, including the Hong Kong International String Competition (2016) and the San Francisco International Innovative Music Competition (2020). She currently pursuing her DMA in Cello Performance, specializing in ethnomusicology and early music.

As a Teaching Assistant at UNT's College of Music and private studio instructor, Aminah is dedicated to creating a joyful, relaxing learning environment where students feel safe and supported. She believes that empathy and love of music are foundational to becoming a meaningful musician. Her innovative teaching approach incorporates animal-assisted learning — her cat Taibai 🐈‍⬛serves as a teaching assistant — helping students reduce anxiety and engage more deeply with their musicianship.

Aminah's teaching is particularly effective for students experiencing performance anxiety, those seeking to reconnect with their love of music, and learners of all ages who thrive in a supportive, compassionate space.