My studio provides a supportive and patient learning environment of students of all levels. I firmly believe that learning music can inspire excellence in all academics and I focus on developing good practice habits from the very beginning. My teaching style is based on traditional classical technique (Galamian, Flesch) enhanced by Suzuki and Kodaly methods of early learning, and incorporates folk and fiddle traditions to emphasize improvisation skills while supporting basic musicianship skills.
With beginner students I emphasize note-reading from the start, and incorporate ear-training and tonic solfege sight singing into the lessons to encourage playing by ear and sight-reading skills. Students' repertoire is drawn from a variety of genres for a broad musical education and also to tailor to individual interests and goals.
I encourage students to reach concrete goals by having them participate in recitals, competitions, and auditions. This includes youth orchestras, Junior and Senior All-State and Solo and Ensemble Contest, and summer music camps. By actively sharing music through performance, students enjoy a sense of accomplishment and completion that motivates them to continue practicing, playing, and reaching their highest potential.