Teaching

In addition to performance, I am passionate about teaching music to others. My teaching is strongly influenced by my primary teachers, Laurie Bastian, Tom Turner, and Roland Vamos. Laurie is a Suzuki method teacher, and her emphasis on mastery of the basics gave me a solid foundation on which to build. Tom is Principal Violist of the Minnesota Orchestra. His musicality and breadth of experience pushed my playing to a new level. Mr. Vamos is renowned for his ability to produce good students, and studying with him helped me to gain a deep understanding of what works best, both musically and technically. As well as my formal training, my experience playing with some of the best musicians in the world constantly informs how I teach.

As a viola teacher, I inspire and teach students to teach themselves. Quality practice is crucial to learning an instrument. I welcome questions and encourage curiosity from my students, so that they understand every concept fully. I believe that as musicians, our ultimate goal should be musical expression. Freedom of musical expression is only possible with good intonation, rhythm, tone, and technique. 

I am available as an audition and performance coach for any instrument, and as a chamber music coach. The fact that I am frequently involved in performance at a high level, and constantly striving to improve my own preparation skills, makes me particularly well suited to this type of coaching.

I enjoy teaching students of all ages and abilities. If you are interested in studying with me, or have questions about my teaching philosophy, please contact me here.