Studio
Welcome! Thank you so much for visiting my teaching page!
Philosophy
I am Professor of Violin and Chair of the String Department at the University of Puget Sound. I teach violin and chamber music as well as String Pedagogy (the nuts and bolts of how to teach string instruments in the studio setting and how to get a job after college).
I am fortunate to have had wonderful teachers in my own education. Much of what I impart to my students comes from an awareness of what has been effective in my training. My approach is conscientious, caring, and individualized. I set high expectations for my students and help them reach clear goals. It is my hope that my students will enter the musical world as thoughtful, creative individuals, each with his or her unique voice.
Teaching Approach
My teaching is always tailored to the individual student. However, I continually return to four major areas when structuring my lessons:
1. The development of a dependable, relaxed technique on the instrument that allows the student to bring his or her musical voice to life.
2. The development of healthy habits that lead to a lifetime of injury-free playing.
3. The development of resources to navigate the ever-changing professional musical landscape. For example, an entrepreneurial spirit has come to mean as much as rock-solid rhythm in today’s music world.
4.The development of listening skills that enable the student to teach themselves in the practice room and perform well with others.
Repertoire
In the violin studio, I focus my curriculum around the major concert works for the violin, the solo works of Bach, Paganini and Ysaÿe, and the diverse repertoire of music from the 20th and 21st century. Every student works on scales, arpeggios, and etudes.
Students
I teach strong players who make a career in violin performance or education, as well as violinists who successfully achieve personal growth in music while pursuing their goals in other fields. I am interested in accepting students who possess an insatiable curiosity, an undaunted enthusiasm for performing, and the will to exercise and develop both of these traits.
Although the majority of my students are college undergraduates, I do occasionally accept talented students from the community. I am also on the faculty of the University of Puget Sound Community Music Department. The Department is a wonderful resource for the greater Tacoma community that offers lessons, classes and workshops for students of all ages and abilities.
