Violin with Cyrgus B.

Whether you are 8 or 80, the most difficult part about learning is developing the discipline to practice. Fortunately, there are many ways to make this fun by turning assignments into games and setting rewards for achieving goals. Connecting development exercises to music that we already enjoy and listen to everyday helps fan the flames that fuel the fire (rhythm, repetition, alliteration...there is certainly a positive correlation). Students will learn to apply classical techniques to all genres of music, especially those of interest whether rock, hip-hop, or top 40. By simplifying sound to its essential elements, students will learn how identify, analyze and manipulate variables to create their own unique style on their instrument. Although I have listed violin/fiddle and viola as specific instruments, these lessons can be catered to apply to any instrument. Speaking of instruments, you may wonder why I also teach meditation or what that has to do with any of this. Simply put, one's primary instrument, the mind, must be fine-tuned and cared for in order to learn a secondary instrument successfully. I find that the combination of music and meditation as learned arts tend to compound the benefits of each. Credits: - 15 years playing violin (7 years on electric 5 string violin) - Graduated with honors from Baltimore School for the Arts - Former student of music and psychology at Towson University - Contracted music for weddings, open houses, and other events - Performance experience includes several local music venues/clubs (including the Hippodrome Theatre), festivals, churches (as part of the worship service), and recording studios.