Rosewood Violin & Viola Studio

Philosophy

As a certified Suzuki method teacher with over 16 years of teaching experience, I abide by the Any Child Can! teaching philosophy first laid out by the Suzuki Method’s founder, Shinichi Suzuki.  I teach students of all ages, abilities, and experience levels.  Skills and violin or viola technique are broken down into small, achievable bits, and are mastered before going on to harder music or techniques.  Every student gets a custom experience:  I love finding ways to speak to that particular student’s way of learning, their personality, and their unique attributes via tailored music selection, exercises, and even specific suggestions to research recordings and historical background.

​

Additionally, learning to play the violin or viola is multifaceted: it can be at once exciting and joyful, as well as full of challenges, plateaus, and hard, steady work.  Students studying violin or viola have the opportunity to pursue something consistently, work a piece of “equipment” (i.e. the violin or viola) that has not evolved much in its design and materials since the 19th Century, gain confidence and a unique voice, perform and discover music that has stood the test of time, and hopefully enjoy themselves immensely in the process.

​

As a teacher, I aim to bring music and its complexity, expression, and quirks to life as the student learns to physically play and maneuver the instrument.  Expressing oneself with an instrument can be one of the most powerful ways to share any feelings or views on life without words.  Musical learning, performing, and collaborative opportunities allow students to genuinely connect with themselves, other musicians, audiences, and the world.  Putting yourself “out there” as a musician can be a steadying and sometimes cathartic force in an often uncertain world.

It is an honor to work with my students, and I enjoy watching students of all ages come into their own.  I love what I do, and sharing what I know and want to express drives everything that I do as a professional musician and teacher.