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The summer before 9th grade, my mom suggested I give some private lessons to beginners as a creative alternative to picking up a paper route. Little did I know the impact that first job would have—20 years later and I'm still teaching!
In addition to giving private lessons, I’ve found myself teaching in classrooms (kindergarten through college), visiting schools as a guest artist, directing fiddle groups, coaching a high school rock orchestra, running music camps, presenting at conferences, and leading workshops around the country for students and educators. These varied educational activities and their challenges eventually led me to study further at Harvard University, where I obtained a master's degree focused on the arts in education. If you’re looking for a guest teacher/clinician/performer for your studio, music program, or summer camp—or some other out-of-the-box teaching opportunity I haven’t thought of—please drop me a line! |
Private Teaching
I maintain a small private studio of dedicated violinists/fiddlers out of my home in Mesa, AZ. Central to my teaching is the belief that students should learn through both classical and folk pedagogies, developing well-rounded musicianship and artistry. As such, all of my students are both violinists and fiddlers to varying extents: they actively work on elements of traditional classical study (e.g., solo repertoire, etudes, scales, technique) as well as elements of fiddling (e.g., improvising, accompanying, jamming, chopping). Each spring, my students perform classical repertoire on a solo studio recital. Additionally, they participate in monthly jam sessions with the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, improvising solos and jamming through tunes they've learned by ear. Students are also presented with occasional opportunities to perform in masterclasses and take guest lessons with colleagues and friends who travel through Arizona.
Various accomplishments of students in the studio include: participation in multiple honor orchestras, including the AZ High School Regional and All-State Orchestras; performances on numerous school talent shows (including coordinating and arranging bands at the elementary school level); acceptance into the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy and Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival; invitations to perform on gigs with local bands; concertmaster and assistant concertmaster positions in school and community orchestras; performances at the ASTA National Conference; and, admission into rigorous collegiate music programs at Arizona State University and Brigham Young University.
To inquire about lesson availability, please send me a message.
Various accomplishments of students in the studio include: participation in multiple honor orchestras, including the AZ High School Regional and All-State Orchestras; performances on numerous school talent shows (including coordinating and arranging bands at the elementary school level); acceptance into the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy and Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival; invitations to perform on gigs with local bands; concertmaster and assistant concertmaster positions in school and community orchestras; performances at the ASTA National Conference; and, admission into rigorous collegiate music programs at Arizona State University and Brigham Young University.
To inquire about lesson availability, please send me a message.
D'Addario Collaboration Videos
I had a blast working with Liz at D'Addario when they invited me to participate in their instructional video series!
Here are two videos on rosining and tightening the bow.
Here are two videos on rosining and tightening the bow.
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