“She (Ashley) has taught me so many nice and new things.” – Abigail, age 6
“The Best Teacher I’ve ever had!”-Paul, middle school student
“Thank you for being a wonderful teacher and role model.” – Kali, high school student
“#BestInstructorEver”- Lauren, age 9
“Having you for a teacher was a blessing from God.”-David, middle school student
“Awesome, kind and loving!”-Maddie, age 8
Subscribe to my blog for access to my FREE course: Violin Studio 101 !
Prefer a translation? Ebooks available in French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and German:
Studio de Violon 101 : Traduction française
Estudio del violín 101: Traducción al español
Studio del violino 101: Traduzione italiana
Estúdio de Violino 101: Tradução para o português
Geigenstudio 101: Deutsche Übersetzung
Teaching Philosophy
Have you ever noticed the soaring strings in your favorite movie, tapped your foot to the fiddle part of a country song, or listened to the melodious sound of the violin playing in a local café? The violin permeates movie scores, orchestral works, church music, and country bands. The most famous composers of all time, including Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart to name a few, all wrote timeless violin concertos that still amaze audiences today.
Having been a musician my entire life, I believe that music is one of the most beautiful and beneficial abilities a person can develop. I began my career using the Suzuki Method, which emphasizes the importance of aural training and developing the ear. For very young players it incorporates many games which have a musical purpose, making it attractive to little minds. I believe it is an excellent method for teaching violin to young children. It is the foundation for much of my teaching, although I do not use it exclusively. I combine the Suzuki Method with my own “well-balanced meal” approach.
Just like we must eat our vegetables in order to have good health, students learn good technique at an early age in order to have healthy musical habits. Whether they are five or eighteen, students begin their lessons with scales and arpeggios or etudes. These form the building blocks of good playing. Next, they move into their primary songs (usually Suzuki pieces), or the “main course.” These are the foundational pieces that help them grow as musicians. Each Suzuki piece is a building block that allows students to grow musically. Lastly, when time permits, I give students a flashy show piece, or “dessert” piece. These can be a variety of genres, ranging from fiddle, to pop, to jazz. Students are invigorated by these catchy songs and are motivated to play their “dessert” piece! It also gives them a taste of different styles of music, a skill I believe to be important in the music industry today.
Why learn violin?
The violin engages both the left and right sides of the brain. Violinists are analytical and meticulous in order to accurately execute the notes on the page. They also engage the creative right side of the brain so that they can convey the narrative and emotion of the music, while adding their own artistic spin.
Playing violin well requires daily practice, instilling discipline that can be applied to other areas of life, including academics and physical fitness. Violin students also learn how to perform in front of others, a skill which translates well into public speaking and presentations.
Learning the violin is a challenging yet rewarding skill to acquire, and when studied in a fun and encouraging environment, students can enjoy music and find a sense of accomplishment when they achieve their musical goals!
Getting Started!
If violin has caught your fancy, contact me to set up a consultation. During this session students and parents can ask me questions about my studio, and I give a mini lesson. If they have never played before, I show them the very basics of violin playing, like how to hold the violin and bow and how to clap a rhythm. Students can begin as young as 4 or 5, and start on a small box violin to learn the proper way to hold it. If the students have already played violin before, they can bring their books and play part of an old song for me.
*As of now I do not have any available openings for private lessons.