First and foremost, I believe in having fun! Self-expression is a primal essential to all human beings, and I aim to help my students express themselves and their world through music. The past has a nearly inexhaustible variety of music, and I love helping students discover everything from the most popular to the most obscure.

I strive to create a welcoming, nurturing, and inspiring environment. I love sharing my passion for music with everyone. I also incorporate basic theory and music history to give my students a well-rounded musical education.

I tailor my teaching to each individual student. For young children I primarily use the Suzuki method (click here to learn more). For intermediate level students and adult beginners, I incorporate some components of both Suzuki and traditional methods (Galamian, Delay etc.). I hold all of my students to high standards and hard work. Naturally, each student will progress at his/her own rate and will not be judged or compared to another student.

I understand that not everyone has the desire to become a concert soloist. I discuss my student's goals and aspirations and adjust my teaching style accordingly. I believe in honest and continual communication between student, teacher and parent (when applicable) to ensure that everyone is always on the same page.

I believe that the most basic elements of music and playing technique are the most important.  Rhythm, Intonation, tone quality, and organic expression are at the forefront of my priorities.  I believe in having a good balance between technical work and musical refinement, though different students will need more or less of either.

Breaking down problems into smaller, easy-t0-understand elements are an integral part of my teaching.  I will not rest until I have found a way to help each student understand the task at hand.  Each student has a different way of learning, so I strive to explain my thoughts in a variety of ways.

I believe that a firm understanding of how we use our bodies to play an instrument is critical to developing comfort and ease of expression.  I aim to help students feel comfortable and avoid injury. Believe it or not, violin can be easy!!