Viola with Anne R.

Private studio

As a teacher, I strive to give my students the knowledge and confidence to eventually continue on their own path of learning. I had the opportunity to study with such great pedagogues as John Kendall and Peter Slowik, and their teaching has influenced me greatly. John Kendall, the man who brought Shinichi Suzuki to the US, taught through teaching his pupils how to practice. I continue to use his ideas on a regular basis. I also frequently use the exercises and problem-solvers that I learned from Peter Slowik. In 2014 I injured my shoulder and was not able to play for an extended period of time. This seemingly disastrous event turned out to be life-changing in an extremely positive way. It opened my eyes to the problems of tension in playing, and the fact that so many string players suffer from unnecessary playing-related injuries. I used my time away from the viola to study anatomy and observe lessons on the basics of playing. This whole experience made me realize just how much I could help students to develop an awareness of playing that could keep them pain and injury free. Wishing to deepen my knowledge in this area, I enrolled in a Feldenkrais training program . I am very excited to apply my new knowledge and skills into my teaching.

University of Colorado

I worked closely with Professor Erika Eckert to prepare and lead scale classes, orchestral viola section sessions, and private lessons for undergraduate and graduate level viola students.

Oberlin Conservatory

University of Colorado

Limited Proficiency

Native Proficiency

Professional Proficiency