For those of you needing assistance with violin or general music/music history:
I received my Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where I studied all subjects related to classical music. I practiced the violin furiously and also studied violin pedagogy for three years with a leading expert in the field. I am certified by the Suzuki Association of the Americas to teach Suzuki violin books 1-10. I supplemented my education at the university with many summer music programs, including those at the Opera Theater and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Indiana University Summer String Academy. I have held teaching positions at the Pine Mountain Music Festival in Michigan, the Boulder Suzuki Strings, the Parlando Music Academy, and the La Greve music camp in Geneva, Switzerland.
My approach to teaching music is one of fostering self-expression and confidence in my students while helping them to build the technical skills that will enable them to convey their musical ideas freely. My primary goal is to cultivate a positive learning environment that motivates my students to pursue their studies for the sheer enjoyment of the process. One of the most difficult aspects of studying music is finding within oneself the motivation and discipline to routinely devote time and energy to mastering one's instrument. By creating conditions in which the learning itself is the reward, the effort becomes more streamlined and the results are quire remarkable.
For grammar, English, reading and writing inquiries:
Using the English language has always been one of my strongest capabilities. In first grade, my teacher told me to remember to send her a copy of my first published novel. Throughout high school, I excelled in my honors and advanced placement English and writing courses, scoring fives on both the English Language and English Literature advanced placement tests. I went on to work professionally as a grant-writer for two non-profit arts organizations, winning several major grants over the past two years. I also worked briefly as a freelance essay editor, and received glowing reviews from my clients.
My approach to teaching English, reading, and writing is to empower my students by giving them the tools needed to express themselves and discover the joys of learning. I am myself an avid reader, and will convey to my students the power that language has to uplift, inspire, and move others. The basic structures of grammar and writing are the essential building blocks of a system that ultimately connects us to one another.