About My Studio

About Me -

There are two things in life that really make me "tick" - music and people.  I feel that teaching is the perfect vocation for me because it's the perfect marriage of those two things.  I love working with people on a personal basis (private lessons). I enjoy sharing my knowledge regarding violin/viola technique, repertoire, and musicality and discovering how to tailor my teaching to each individual. My specialty is connecting with my students on both a personal and musical level so that I'm able to help them have break-throughs.

I've been teaching since 1994 and playing since 1988. My life has always revolved around making music in some way or another. I earned my undergrad - Bachelor of Music in Violin - at the University of Houston Moores' School of Music in Houston, Texas.  I have had the honor of studying with some brilliant teachers in my career.  Probably the most influential was my teacher at University; Andrezej Grabiec. He was both a father figure to me and the best violin teacher a student could have. His personable approach inspired mine, and I seek to teach as he does every day.

My Qualifications -

I've been playing the violin for 32 years and I majored in Violin Performance at the University of Houston. I've played the viola for 19 years and I must admit that I love it every bit as much as the violin!

I've been teaching for over 25 years. I started teaching in my home in Austin, Texas when I was very young, and taught while in college as well.  I've coached camps at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis and taught at K&S Conservatory in Woodbury, Minnesota.  I taught in Burnsville at the Minnesota Valley Academy of Music and for many years, I was violin, viola, and chamber music faculty at St Joseph's School of Music in St Paul.

Many of my high school students have been selected to participate in All-State and my students are involved in both Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies and Minnesota Youth Symphonies.  I encourage my students to audition for college scholarships, including those who don't necessarily intend to be music majors.  I think of music as a life-long gift that we can give, receive, and share with others.

What I love about my Students -

 I love working with all ages. The youngest students I work with are usually 3-5 years old.  My oldest student at the moment is 72. I get a kick out of the little ones... watching them discover the wonder that is music and guiding them toward making sounds that don’t resemble a dying cat! Adults are a blast because they bring an intellectual level to their playing that kids haven't necessarily developed. My high school students who are really dedicated and practice long and hard are SO rewarding to teach.

I also really love teaching my chamber groups.  I teach adult string quartets, and younger student quartets, trios and duos. It’s great to watch and encourage interactions between players.