Violinist, Pianist, Teacher and Conductor
I graduated December 2010 from Texas Tech University. I have my Bachelor of Music with a Teacher’s Certification in the area of strings and orchestral studies. My principle instrument is the violin and studied under Dr. John H. Gilbert as a part of my degree. I continued secondary piano studies with Dr. Carla D. Cash at Texas Tech University.
In the Fall of 2010, I completed my degree by doing a full time student teaching at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. During my time teaching at Martin HS, the orchestra competed in TMEA String Honor Orchestra, where they placed third in the finals. This is the highest placement in this competition they have received since the mid-1980s. During my time in Arlington, I sat as a violin judge for region full orchestra and region string orchestra. I personally conducted 3 of the 5 orchestra and taught each class daily, either in sectionals or group instruction and conducting
At Texas Tech University, I worked two years as a teacher for the nationwide outreach program, String Project. With String Project, I would teach classes of 15 to 20 students at a time. These classes were forty-five minute violin classes held at the university twice a week. Each student had an additional thirty minute weekly, private lesson. My work, along with 4 other teachers, earned a position to lead two clinics at the annual ASTA convention, held in Atlanta Georgia in 2009.
During the Spring 2011 semester, I spent my week in the Houston area as an orchestra teacher at Fort Settlement Middle School. During my time at Fort Settlement, I ran a program of 164 middle school string musicians on violin, viola, cello, bass and harp. The orchestra ranged from beginner to upper-intermediate levels. I had the opportunity to take 3 of the orchestras to UIL contest. All three groups came back with outstanding awards, including Sweepstakes, the highest award possible.
I am a sought after violinist, pianist, accompanist, teacher, conductor, and adjudicator for several ensembles, musical organizations, and student recitals. I began my musical career at the age of eight playing the piano. I have continued to play and take piano lessons throughout my life. When I entered the sixth grade, at the age of 11, I began my violin studies. These violin and piano studies led to my eventual audition and acceptance at Texas Tech. Though one may think two is enough, I did not. After a year marching in the colorguard in high school, I began lessons on the clarinet at the age of 15 and joined the band. I continued to perform on the clarinet in the marching and concert bands throughout high school and college.
With 6 years of private, group and public teaching, I am a state certified music teacher for early childhood through 12th grade. Since the fall of 2011, I also teach full time as a middle orchestra teacher in Lewisville ISD. I am a current member of TMEA, TODA, TMTA, and ASTA. I have taught a wide range of students and enjoy sharing my passion for music making. As a teacher, I want my students to understand and learn music in many different aspects. Understanding how to read notes and rhythms is important, but combining them with the emotion and sensitivity of music makes playing any instrument fantastic. Music theory and technique are other important aspects of playing all instruments and are stressed in each lesson as well. As students practice and develop their skill and understanding, it is my desire for students to express the music from the depths of their heart.
*** Lesson Details ***
I am generally a very easy to get along with, but I do have high expectations from my students. For beginners, I run my lessons in sections with stretches, detailed warm-ups, repertoire, theory and end with an overview of the lesson and expectations for the next lesson. With my intermediate and advanced students, I expect them to come in already warmed up and prepared. I will have them play through technique exercises with brief reviews and explanations for the next expected exercise. We then go immediately into repertoire where students will "perform" prepared pieces for me. I stop and work on things throughout and then set an expectation for the next lesson for repertoire before ending the lesson.
*Note* I do expect all students to have an instrument to practice on. I highly encourage all beginners to RENT their first instrument from an instrument specialty store and not purchase one from a "department" or "super" store or online. Instrument specialty stores are always available to do repairs and upgrades with very decent prices. Purchased beginner instruments are hard to sell once grown out of. I do have names and numbers for multiple violin and piano shops in the DFW area, as well as a piano tuner.
*** Studio Equipment ***
Front Room: Piano, music stand and mirror, chairs and couch, highly encourage parents to sit in on lessons
*** Travel Equipment ***
Students will need to provide all of their own equipment. I will bring any additional books on an as need basis. I will bring my own violin to violin lessons, but students will need to provide their own with accessories.
*** Specialties ***
Kodaly and Suzuki
I currently am the Director of Orchestras at North Garland HS in Garland, Texas.
I was the teacher for 4th and 5th grade beginner strings at Walnut Glen Academy of Excellence in Garland, Texas. Instruments taught are harp, violin, viola, cello and bass.
Assistant to orchestras at Lakeview Middle School
Assistant to orchestras at Durham Middle School.
Director of orchestras at Fort Settlement Middle School
I am certified to teach music at all levels (Early Childhood to 12th grade).
I am certified to teach in the state of Texas.
The MTNA was founded in 1876 with the goal of advancing the value of music study and music-making to society while supporting the careers and professionalism of teachers of music. With nearly 22,000 members in 50 states—and more than 500 local affiliates—the MTNA is the preeminent source for music teacher support, where members embody like-minded values and commitment to their students, colleagues and society as a whole, while reaping the rewards of collaboration, continuity and connection throughout the lifetime of their careers.
The American String Teachers Association, founded more than 60 years ago, is a membership organization for string and orchestra teachers and players, helping them to develop and refine their careers. ASTA's members range from budding student teachers to artist-status performers. The organization provides a vast array of services, including instrument insurance, an award-winning scholarly journal, discounts on publications and resources, annual professional development opportunities, and access to collegial network of colleagues throughout the string profession.
Begun in 1920 as the Texas Band Teachers Association, the Texas Music Educators Association is an organization of over 10,000 school music educators dedicated to promoting excellence in music education. TMEA is comprised of five divisions: Band, Orchestra, Vocal, Elementary and College. On behalf of its members and Texas schoolchildren, TMEA carefully monitors the actions of all state decision-making bodies on issues affecting fine arts instruction in Texas. In addition to many member benefits, TMEA offers professional development opportunities for its members with Region workshops and especially with its annual Clinic/Convention. TMEA supports the future of music education by offering scholarships to music education majors and by sponsoring the Texas Future Music Educators, an organization through which high school students interested in careers in music education learn more about what to expect in their college education and future careers.
