About
Carolyn Broe has been teaching violin and viola for over twenty five years in Scottsdale, Arizona. She also teaches beginning cello and piano lessons. Carolyn enjoys teaching students of all ages and abilities. She is the Principal Violist with Scottsdale Philharmonic, and performs with Sweetwater Strings, and Four Seasons String Quartet. Carolyn Broe is also the Conductor of the Four Seasons Orchestra of Scottsdale. She has a Doctorate of Music from Arizona State University, a Masters in Music History from CSULB, and a Bachelors of Music from Chapman University. She also holds an Arizona Teaching Certification in Music. She was given the Artist Award in 2005 from the Phoenix Office of Cultural Arts. She was nominated for the Governor's Arts Award as a teacher, and for community service for 2003 and 2004. She also received the "Dream Cathcher Award" in 1995, and a Service Award from Paradise Valley Community College in 2003.
Carolyn Broe teaches a progressive Western traditional method which is blended with the Suzuki method. She works with each student to achieve their goals in music. If you have a dream to learn how to play music, please contact Carolyn Broe today.
I love teaching people how to play music. It is very rewarding to see excited they are when they learn a new piece. Music has been a great joy in my own life. I started when I was very young, and have been grateful that I had amazing teachers. I really enjoy sharing the techniques and tips that I learned with my own students. In a way, it is like passing the torch on to the next generation. I also enjoy helping adults to learn music or get back to playing their instrument. It is a joy to help people to achieve their goals and realize their dreams to play music.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I like to listen to each new student performing a piece that they know, so that I can get an idea of what level they are performing at. Then I recommend some solo or method books that they might enjoy working on. I like to balance each lesson with a variety of techniques and solo pieces. I have some wonderful tips for how to make progress on music lessons. Each student is unique, so I like to find the music that will inspire them to achieve their dreams and goals.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Doctorate in Music in Performance from Arizona State University. I also have a Masters Degree in Music History, and a Bachelor's of Music in performance. I have been very fortunate to have studied with some of the finest music teachers. I have taught violin, viola, and piano for over twenty five years. I have taught beginning cello for nineteen years. I used to teach in the public schools in Scottsdale. I have also had Suzuki training. I have taken classes in the Galamian methods, Dounis methods, and Rolland methods of teaching strings.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I teach out of my home studio in Scottsdale, Arizona and I now teach online lessons through Zoom. I charge 25 dollars for a half hour lesson once a week, and 50 dollars for a full hour lesson. Most students like to pay for a full month of lessons at the beginning of the month. I do not give lessons every other week. I feel that most students make better progress if they have a lesson every week.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching private viola lessons when I was in high school. After I finished my Bachelor's degree, I taught piano lessons at a private school for six years. After I finished my Masters degree I began teaching at the Maricopa Community Colleges as the violin, viola and orchestra conductor at GCC, PVCC and MCC. After finishing my Doctorate in Music, I started teaching both elementary and high school string classes in the Scottsdale School District. I continued teaching at my home school as well.
What types of students have you worked with?
I teach beginning, intermediate, and advanced violin and viola. I also teach beginning cello and piano. I have been very fortunate to have worked with some very talented students over the years. Several of my former students became the Principal Violists of the Phoenix Youth Symphony. I have also had students that made it into the Regional and All State Orchestras. I have also had students who performed with the North Valley Youth Symphony or the Scottsdale Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Two of my students went on to get their Masters Degrees in Viola, and one student got his Doctorate in Music Education. One of my students is a strings teacher in the Paradise Valley School District.
I teach students of all ages and abilities. I have taught gifted students and students with disabilities. I have taught partially sighted students. I have taught many beginners. I have taught both adult beginners, and adult re-entry students, who want to get back into playing their instrument. I enjoy teaching people who love music, and helping them to achieve their dreams.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I conducted the Four Seasons Orchestra in a concert of Vivaldi's Four Seasons Concertos for the Violin. We featured five award winning solo artists, who were between the ages of 13 and 24. They did a fantastic job of performing the Four Seasons Concertos. You can hear some of my past concerts as a soloist and condutor at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPXm2SiGPMjS4XTe8rPM8Bw
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
When you are looking for a good music teacher, find out how many years of teaching experience they have. Do they have a degree in music, or just teach on the side for fun? Ask if they teach the style of music you would like to learn. Find out if they only teach one method, or several methods. Does the teacher teach your age and ability levels? Does the teacher teach the basics step by step, or just drill the student on one piece for a year in order for them to play it at a recital? Probably the best advice is to get a teacher who loves teaching, and has a lot of experience teaching music.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Think about your goals in music starting out. Be realistic about the time needed to achieve those goals. Be willing to set aside time each day to practice the lesson for that week. It is so important to reinforce what you have learned. Think about what styles of music you want to learn, such as Classical, popular, orchestra music, Broadway, movie music, and other genres. There is a whole world of amazing music to discover. You just need to take the first step, and reach out to a music teacher.