Violin with Kristin B.

I began studying violin in 1991 when I was 7 years old. I have been under a teacher or orchestra director almost continuously since that time up until the last couple years. More recently, I joined a folk band in Mississippi and performed here and there, once even being requested in Panama City Beach! I began teaching students in 2001 and have taught since then. I have a passion for showing others my love for music and inspiring the same love within them. I studied music under Mr. Matt Stott in Vero Beach, FL for 3 years and then moved to Miami for college. At FIU, I studied under Mr. Ivan Chan and Ms. Cathy Meng Robinson of the Miami String Quartet. While at FIU, I studied Biology and Chemistry as a double major for 3 years until I discovered that, while I excelled at the program of study, I didn't want to be a doctor. Not seeing any other palatable jobs in those fields, I went on to get my Bachelors' degree in Psychology within 2 years. I immediately went to Graduate school in Mississippi to study Marriage and Family Therapy. I obtained my Masters' degree and returned to Miami to work part time as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Intern. My husband was deployed with the Army National Guard to the Middle East during my time in Miami. When he returned, he took a job in Pittsburgh. Here in the 'Burgh, I primarily have tutored in the Sciences, but am looking forward to teaching music once again. I enjoy teaching students and bringing the light of music into their lives. I look forward to meeting you and to working with you as you take the journey into the beautiful realms of music. *** Violin Lesson Details *** I strongly believe that each student is different and therefore I tailor each student's lesson to their needs and strengths. I am a flexible teacher, willing to teach what you want to learn. I will give you a strong foundation of classical technique and then help you develop your skills so that you can succeed in any genre of music. I do not have a very strict approach to teaching; I prefer to inspire by encouragement. However, if a parent prefers a more direct and structured approach, I can teach in that way also. Student motivation is very important, so I like to encourage my students by offering them reasons to be motivated. These differ for each student. I mainly use the Suzuki method of teaching, but I can work in other pieces of music and other approaches that better suit the needs of my students. Within 3 months of studying with me, a committed beginner student can expect to have a functional, practical understanding of how the instrument works and have learned 2 pieces. I like teaching students to play songs right away so that they do not get discouraged or bogged down with theory and not get to experience the thrill of making music themselves. *** Specialties *** Foundational Suzuki, contemporary, folk, worship, classical