About
For 40 years I have been teaching violin lessons and as of 20 years the viola and piano. I have a passion for people, music and beauty: a great combination for teaching music. As a musician I have played for many concert events, weddings, shows, orchestras and chamber music events. Through teaching and performing, I have had really wonderful experiences sharing the beauty of music. My private teachers and professors have given me a broad array of learning and the passion to achieve excellence. My training has been from the list of these outstanding teachers: Karol Welcelean (deceased), Fryderick Sadowski (principal 2nd of the St. Louis Symphony, but deceased), Takaoki Sugitani (associate concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony), Taras Gabora (concert artist and master teacher from Canada), and John Kendall (Suzuki Method pioneer in the U.S.A.), Marjorie Jones (deceased) and Dr. Tomas L. Yancey from Missouri. I have also had chamber music coaching from well known teachers from Manhattan through the Chamber Music Seminar of the East. I earned my Bachelor's in Music Education (violin major and piano minor) and my Master's in violin performance from the St. Louis Conservatory of Music with additional long term Suzuki teacher training at SIU-Edwardsville. My teaching experience has been both public and private studio in St. Louis and New Orleans. I have played in such orchestras as the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Illinois Symphony and Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis (as principal 2nd). I have a life teaching certificate for K-12 vocal and instrumental and 7-8 speech and drama and I am a registered Suzuki teacher.
I can help students to reach their goals through a variety of different technical and literature formats in order to meet the student's needs and provide a very nurturing environment for study. I make every effort to explain the concepts of music in a manner so that the student understands and provide well performed music demonstrations. The studio presents 2 formal recitals per year and I am always looking for other group performance opportunities and competitions or festivals.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Interview the student to discover as much about their learning life and style as possible. Also, ask them questions about sound and rhythm that will give me an idea of their present apptitude. Then discuss their goals and my expectations.
Then discuss their reading experience and based on all information gathered suggest a syllubus or appropriate literature to start their lessons.
We would then start learning about the care and parts of the instrument, if they have one. If they need assistance renting or purchasing instrument, shoulder rest, etc. I would give some suggestions.
With the stringed instruments we would learn the proper stance, posture, left hand set and bow hold and then start learning to produce a nice beginning tone on the instrument. As these things are pogressing we would use the Twinkle variations and theme or folk tunes and play tunes for beginning pieces played by rote. Exercises or "games" depending on the student's age would be introduced to solidify their skills.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
A music education certificate with courses and long term student teacher situation in the St. Louis Ferguson and Florissant school district. Long term teacher training with John Kendall at SIU-Edwardsville (2 years) and numerous workshops. Then since 5 on through my 30's, private lessons on piano and violin.