My passion has always been teaching.
Playing music gives me such incredible joy; I am devoted to helping others enjoy doing things I love best.
Playing music gives me such incredible joy; I am devoted to helping others enjoy doing things I love best.
Upon finishing my undergraduate teaching degree, I undertook a master’s program in School Administration but soon discovered that administrators spent time with kids only when the kids caused problems. Certain I preferred to stay a teacher working with students, I finished the degree but switched to an emphasis on learning theories and curriculum development.
After completing that degree, I became certified in the Suzuki method taking 7 levels of courses offered by the American Suzuki Association and finally studying with Dr. Suzuki himself in Matsumoto, Japan.
In order to become a better violin teacher and raise my playing abilities, I then completed a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance. This program included Kodaly training taught by the wonderful Jean Sinor from Indiana University. She offered me an assistant teaching position there and entrance to their doctoral program.
At that time, I had already developed a very successful career as director of The Violin School in Asheville, NC, also held a principle position in the Asheville Symphony, was half of a much sought after violin/piano duo, performed with “Past Time in Good Company” Baroque ensemble and directed the chamber music series “Sunday’s in the Garden”. However there was still so much life ahead and I didn’t see any opportunities where I was then for further growth. I went to Indiana, which at the time was THE Mecca for violinists. There I studied with some of the country’s greatest violin and cello teachers.
My doctoral major at IU was in violin pedagogy. I studied musical development in young children, mentally and physically. My dissertation presented a definition of intonation derived from the performances of some of the world’s greatest violinists. I also gathered minor studies in violin performance, philosophy of music, statistics and cognitive science plus computer programming and Finnish language. Students from the Finnish, Kodaly-based, ColourStrings method were winning most of the major European competitions and held the more important orchestra positions. I went to Finland and to England several times each studying this method. As part of my pedagogy program at IU, I also studied in depth the violin approaches of Carl Flesch, Ivan Galamian, George Bornoff and Paul Rolland and the more general music approaches of Edwin Gordon, Carl Orff, and Dalcroze Eurhythmics.
I continue to become familiar with every major and many lesser writings on violin learning, teaching and playing. Most offer excellent ideas and material but not every approach will work best for every learner. I have a deep understanding of what it takes to become a successful musician and have gathered from all these studies and many wonderful teachers an enormous library of approaches, techniques and materials. I do not use just one teaching method. I developed the ability to offer a variety of teaching approaches appropriate to the specific, individual needs of my students of all ages and abilities. My students continually win scholarship awards and a large percentage are extremely successful college music majors while others become successful doctors, scientists, mathematicians, lawyers, teachers and parents.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, I have enjoyed living, teaching and holding playing or conducting positions with symphony orchestras and chamber groups also in Alaska, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Nebraska and Scotland. However, Port Huron, Michigan has been my home for longer than any of those others. Among my favorite activities: I have a large garden of flowers, trees, fruits and vegetables; I am a nationally certified yoga teacher with my own studio and I am an avid Argentine Tango dancer. Thanks to these activities and my scores of wonderful students, I don’t think my life could be any happier or fulfilled.
After completing that degree, I became certified in the Suzuki method taking 7 levels of courses offered by the American Suzuki Association and finally studying with Dr. Suzuki himself in Matsumoto, Japan.
In order to become a better violin teacher and raise my playing abilities, I then completed a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance. This program included Kodaly training taught by the wonderful Jean Sinor from Indiana University. She offered me an assistant teaching position there and entrance to their doctoral program.
At that time, I had already developed a very successful career as director of The Violin School in Asheville, NC, also held a principle position in the Asheville Symphony, was half of a much sought after violin/piano duo, performed with “Past Time in Good Company” Baroque ensemble and directed the chamber music series “Sunday’s in the Garden”. However there was still so much life ahead and I didn’t see any opportunities where I was then for further growth. I went to Indiana, which at the time was THE Mecca for violinists. There I studied with some of the country’s greatest violin and cello teachers.
My doctoral major at IU was in violin pedagogy. I studied musical development in young children, mentally and physically. My dissertation presented a definition of intonation derived from the performances of some of the world’s greatest violinists. I also gathered minor studies in violin performance, philosophy of music, statistics and cognitive science plus computer programming and Finnish language. Students from the Finnish, Kodaly-based, ColourStrings method were winning most of the major European competitions and held the more important orchestra positions. I went to Finland and to England several times each studying this method. As part of my pedagogy program at IU, I also studied in depth the violin approaches of Carl Flesch, Ivan Galamian, George Bornoff and Paul Rolland and the more general music approaches of Edwin Gordon, Carl Orff, and Dalcroze Eurhythmics.
I continue to become familiar with every major and many lesser writings on violin learning, teaching and playing. Most offer excellent ideas and material but not every approach will work best for every learner. I have a deep understanding of what it takes to become a successful musician and have gathered from all these studies and many wonderful teachers an enormous library of approaches, techniques and materials. I do not use just one teaching method. I developed the ability to offer a variety of teaching approaches appropriate to the specific, individual needs of my students of all ages and abilities. My students continually win scholarship awards and a large percentage are extremely successful college music majors while others become successful doctors, scientists, mathematicians, lawyers, teachers and parents.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, I have enjoyed living, teaching and holding playing or conducting positions with symphony orchestras and chamber groups also in Alaska, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Nebraska and Scotland. However, Port Huron, Michigan has been my home for longer than any of those others. Among my favorite activities: I have a large garden of flowers, trees, fruits and vegetables; I am a nationally certified yoga teacher with my own studio and I am an avid Argentine Tango dancer. Thanks to these activities and my scores of wonderful students, I don’t think my life could be any happier or fulfilled.
Degrees & Certificates
• Ph. D., Violin Pedagogy, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
• M.M., Violin Performance, Converse College, Spartenburg, South Carolina
• M.Ed., Public School Administration, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska
• B.S., Education, Instrumental Music, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
• Teaching Certificate, Suzuki Talent Education College, Matsumoto, Japan
• Suzuki Association of America Certified through Level 7
• Colour Strings Teaching Certificates: Kuhmo, Finland, London, UK; Mankato, Minnesota
• Kodaly Certificate Bloomington, Indiana
Performance Studies
• Violin: Won Mo Kim, Jerry Lucktenberg, Paul Rosenthal, Shinichi Suzuki, Yuval Yaron, Mimi Zweig
• Baroque Violin: Eduard Melkus Seminar, Stanley Ritchie Workshop
• Viola da Gamba: Carol Hermann, Margaret Panofsky
• Cello: Margaret Parnam, Helga Winold
• String Pedagogy: Samuel Applebaum, George Bornoff, Jacqueline Dillon, Joseph Gingold,
Henryk Kowalski, William Lincer, Jerri Lucktenberg, James Maurer, Marvin Rabin, Nellie
Shkolnikova, Gaza Szilvay, Janos Starker, Shinchi Suzuki, William Starr, Helga Winold,
Mimi Zweig
• Jazz: David Nabb, Christian Howes
Faculty Positions
• University of Nebraska
• Indiana-Purdue University at Indianapolis
• Director, Columbus Suzuki Program, Indiana
• Director, The Violin School, Asheville, North Carolina
• Mars Hill College
• Strings in the Schools, Asheville, North Carolina
• Anchorage Burrough School District, Alaska
• Norman Oklahoma School District!, Oklahoma
Principle Professional Performing
• Music Director & Principal Conductor, Kearney Area Symphony Orchestra, Nebraska
• Assistant Concertmaster, International Symphony Orchestra Port Huron, MI
• Asheville Symphony Orchestra, N.C.
• Columbus Philharmonic, IN.
• Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, AK
• Livingston Fiddlers, Livingston, Scotland
• Cake and Coffee Club Baroque Ensemble
• Past Time with Good Company Baroque Ensemble
• Numerous small chamber groups
• Ph. D., Violin Pedagogy, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
• M.M., Violin Performance, Converse College, Spartenburg, South Carolina
• M.Ed., Public School Administration, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska
• B.S., Education, Instrumental Music, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
• Teaching Certificate, Suzuki Talent Education College, Matsumoto, Japan
• Suzuki Association of America Certified through Level 7
• Colour Strings Teaching Certificates: Kuhmo, Finland, London, UK; Mankato, Minnesota
• Kodaly Certificate Bloomington, Indiana
Performance Studies
• Violin: Won Mo Kim, Jerry Lucktenberg, Paul Rosenthal, Shinichi Suzuki, Yuval Yaron, Mimi Zweig
• Baroque Violin: Eduard Melkus Seminar, Stanley Ritchie Workshop
• Viola da Gamba: Carol Hermann, Margaret Panofsky
• Cello: Margaret Parnam, Helga Winold
• String Pedagogy: Samuel Applebaum, George Bornoff, Jacqueline Dillon, Joseph Gingold,
Henryk Kowalski, William Lincer, Jerri Lucktenberg, James Maurer, Marvin Rabin, Nellie
Shkolnikova, Gaza Szilvay, Janos Starker, Shinchi Suzuki, William Starr, Helga Winold,
Mimi Zweig
• Jazz: David Nabb, Christian Howes
Faculty Positions
• University of Nebraska
• Indiana-Purdue University at Indianapolis
• Director, Columbus Suzuki Program, Indiana
• Director, The Violin School, Asheville, North Carolina
• Mars Hill College
• Strings in the Schools, Asheville, North Carolina
• Anchorage Burrough School District, Alaska
• Norman Oklahoma School District!, Oklahoma
Principle Professional Performing
• Music Director & Principal Conductor, Kearney Area Symphony Orchestra, Nebraska
• Assistant Concertmaster, International Symphony Orchestra Port Huron, MI
• Asheville Symphony Orchestra, N.C.
• Columbus Philharmonic, IN.
• Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, AK
• Livingston Fiddlers, Livingston, Scotland
• Cake and Coffee Club Baroque Ensemble
• Past Time with Good Company Baroque Ensemble
• Numerous small chamber groups