Teaching
Helping students become their own best teachers
Violin and viola, ages 8 through adult — in person across Colorado, and on Zoom virtually anywhere in the world.
Philosophy
Teaching Philosophy
As a teacher, I strive to help students become their own best teachers. This strategy was passed on to me from some of my own inspirational teachers, and through my own musical development, I have come to appreciate the essential wisdom of this approach. Becoming your own best teacher forms the core of what I try to give my students.
In the lesson setting, I meet the student at whatever level he/she presents to me. I am committed to the importance of music in everyone's life, regardless of an individual's level of pursuit. However, the best gift I can give them is the ability to eventually assess their own playing and to determine what work needs to be done to reach their own next level. Of course, this ability comes with guidance from the teacher, learning by example, both positive and negative, and technical playing tips to approach the instrument as efficiently and comfortably as possible. This way, when they leave the comfort of a school setting, my students are prepared to continue a life-long pursuit of learning for themselves and from the world around them.
Lessons
Work with me
- Violin and Viola
- 30, 45 or 60 minute lessons
- Weekly, biweekly, monthly
- ages 8-adult
- available on Zoom virtually anywhere in the world
- in-person in Colorado
- all genres of music
- Contact me for rates and scheduling!
Background
Education & teaching credentials
My education in music and in teaching is ongoing, but here are some of my credentials:
- University of Northern Colorado, Doctor of Arts Degree and Graduate Teaching Assistant, Viola and Violin Performance, started August 2024
- University of Colorado at Boulder, CO Master of Music Degree and Graduate Teaching Assistant, Viola Performance, May 2012
- Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA, Masters Degree in Violin & Viola Performance, May 2010
- Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music, cum laude
- Aspen Music Festival and School, Summers 2006-10
- Suzuki Training with William Starr in Boulder 2011-12, books 1-3
- Suzuki Training at Columbus Suzuki Institute 2017 with Roger Steig, books 4-5
- Suzuki Training book 6 with Allen Lieb and book 7 with Linda Fiore at Intermountain Suzuki Institute 2021
- Suzuki training book 8 with Kristen Marshall at Ithaca Suzuki Institute 2021
- Member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas since 2012
- Magic Mountain Music Farm, Morris, NY: Virtuoso String Teacher's Workshop with Burton Kaplan, August 2015
- Virtuoso Master Course with Nathan Cole, Associate Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, 2023
- I perform regularly with the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Ballet, Central City Opera Orchestra, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Boulder Philharmonic, various chamber ensembles and for recording sessions.
Commitment
Diversity Statement
First and foremost, I believe the arts are central to the education of young people and to the future of whole, vibrant communities. As an advocate for music education, I have learned how to make a case for the arts as a pathway to creative problem-solving, deeper self-understanding and the development of important social skills through collaboration. I have worked in both urban and rural settings, with many age groups and abilities, and with children with various access barriers to music.
In alignment with the commitment to serving students with access barriers — either financial, social or geographic — to high quality music programs, I have embraced such opportunities. Currently, I play with a string quartet through Friends of Chamber Music Denver. The main focus of our quartet is education programming primarily for underserved schools. We designed a program that focuses on story-telling through music and features music from many styles, all of which tell a story.
Another example is my work with El Sistema Colorado in the past as a substitute violin/viola teaching artist in the schools, in their after-school program and as a violinist for their conducting students at the summer program in 2018. I also had the thrill of performing with Yo-Yo Ma at Red Rocks with El Sistema Colorado in August 2018.
Some of my academic research addresses issues specific to marginalized groups, including a paper I wrote on the history of the violin in New Orleans before the Great Migration and what happened to the violin in New Orleans Jazz culture in the mid 1900s. I also prioritize playing music by underrepresented composers and I encourage students to pick music that reflects their own experience and interests.
I believe that music has the power to connect us across our diverse backgrounds and to help celebrate and honor our unique differences. I strive to honor and support this belief through my work as a performer, teacher and administrator.
Now accepting students for Fall 2026
Ready to start?
Reach out for rates, scheduling, and availability.