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Levels: Beginner to Advanced
In-Home Lessons: Yes
In-Studio Lessons: No
Ages: 5 & up
Subjects Taught
Violin, Music Theory, Viola
Education
Northern Arizona University - Violin Performance, Music Education - 2006-Present
Specialties
I am finishing my Suzuki Long-term Teacher Training, and have been teaching Suzuki violin lessons for the past 5 years. The Suzuki method, developed by violin pedagogue Shinichi Suzuki, is a method of learning music beginning at a very young age, and it is based on how children first learn to speak.
Although I have spent the past few years learning the Suzuki method and teaching with this method, I have also taught traditional violin lessons. I was taught using the traditional
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method, and am very familiar with it.
I want lessons to be a fun experience that all of my students look forward to each week, but lessons are still very structured. I focus greatly on proper setup and technique; stringed instruments are extremely difficult to play, and playing becomes even more difficult without the proper technique. Because of this, progress may seem slow at first, but I always encourage students to keep working, because with the correct positioning and technique, progress will be easier and much more fun.
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When I work with younger students, I expect parents to attend lessons and help the children in their home practice, and I always encourage parents of older students to be involved in lessons as well. My students are accustomed to receiving very specific assignments at the end of each lesson to work on before their next lesson, and I give student and parents guidelines for practicing efficiently at home. I encourage my student to practice regularly, because regular practice is the best way to make progress on any instrument. I understand when students are involved in other activities and sometimes miss out on practice time, but I do like to reward students who practice regularly, and they see the rewards in the progress they make in their playing as well. I am always trying to think of fun and creative ideas for lessons and practicing and home, because I believe that learning comes much more easily when we are enjoying the learning process, and I always strive to create a positive environment and encourage a positive attitude in lessons and when practicing, even when learning isn't so easy.
My name is Alexandra, and I am currently finishing my Bachelor's degrees in Violin Performance and Music Education at Northern Arizona University. I have also been completing my Suzuki Long-Term teacher training while at NAU, and will be registered for Suzuki Books 1-4 by the time I graduate in December 2011. I began playing violin at nine years old, and it has been my life ever since. Towards the end of high school, I knew that I wanted to continue studying music, and I decided to attend
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NAU after being awarded an orchestra scholarship. I have studied violin with Dr. Louise Scott and Shelley Rich while at NAU, and I have studied Suzuki Pedagogy with Karin Hallberg. I have participated in workshops with notable Suzuki teachers Dr. Terry Durbin and Carrie Reuning-Hummel, and recently participated in a Music Mind Games Unit One Teacher Workshop with Michiko Yurko. My Suzuki teacher training has given me some great teaching opportunities during my undergraduate career. I have been teaching private Suzuki violin lessons and group classes with the NAU Community Music and Dance Academy since 2007, and have worked with students ranging from the very beginning stages of learning violin and viola to Suzuki Book 5. I have also taught Suzuki group classes at Marshall Elementary School, a local elementary school offering a unique program where all students in kindergarten through second grade take Suzuki classes, and even have their own violin lesson to use during class. While participating at the Arizona Suzuki Association workshops in 2009 and 2010, I had the opportunity to teach master classes and Music Mind Games classes to Suzuki students throughout the state. While at NAU, I have served as principal second violin of the NAU Symphony and Chamber Orchestras for multiple performances. I have also been a section violinist in the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra since 2008.
