Violin with Emmaleigh L.

Music has always inspired and motivated me. In my house growing up there was an old violin that sat in the corner of our front room, unplayed and untouched. My parents had bought it for my older sister with the little money they had from my father's fisherman wages. A month or two later it went back in its case and shoved in a place that was easy to overlook. 10 years later, I opened the case, found a teacher, and joined a beginner orchestra. 11 years later and I still find the violin as inspiring and beautiful as it was that first day. However, it wasn't always easy. Violin lessons were paid out of my own pocket, time was sacrificed for practice and eventually, an advanced violin was needing to be bought. Violin has always been a symbol of self sacrifice and motivation in my life. These circumstances have become the foundation of the teaching methods I use for my students. The beginning of each lesson, we work together to create goals that stretch the student while keeping them motivated. The lessons are then tailored to their abilities, keeping in mind what is possible through their current goals. Students are expected to push themselves but knowing that I will give in as much effort as they do. My goal is to not only teach my students how to play the songs but to foster a pattern of self motivation and healthy goal making.