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Master Degree: University of New Mexico, Bachelor Degree: Eastern New Mexico University
New Mexico Teaching License - 2019-2027
Highly Effective Teaching Certificate 2018
Building Bridges with the Community 2008
I have played cello since I was in 4th grade and grew up in the Albuquerque Public Schools, then earned my Bachelors Degree at Eastern New Mexico University in Music Education. Now, almost 40 years later, I am teaching full time Orchestra with APS and have become highly proficient in violin, viola and string bass playing. I am a friendly, responsible and passionate musician who loves to watch my students grow and advance within a short period of time. With regular practice the student will be able quickly move through and master many skills and concept which will allow them to play from a broader and more advanced repertoire My first teaching experience was in Japan and then Florida. I then moved back to New Mexico and taught in Farmington and Los Alamos for a few years. I came back to Albuquerque where my heart was and raised two sons. I have been teaching Orchestra with Albuquerque Public Schools for over 30 years and have been at Jimmy Carter Middle School for 20 years. Before that, I taught Orchestra at Grant and Kennedy Middle School. I do truly enjoy teaching all ages even though most of my experience is with Middle School children. Many of my students continue taking lessons with me through their years in High School. It's never to late to begin playing an instrument, so I encourage older students to try it too! Building a close relationship with the students and their parents is also important to me. Parents are encouraged to be present for the lesson but it is not a requirement. I find that when parents are present, keeping track of what needs to be practice can be much easier for the student. There is nothing that can replace the support of the students parents. I prefer to teach in my home but would be happy to consider traveling to you if that works better for you. I have had private students in the past but have taken a break since COVID hit. I would like to rebuild my private studio clientele once again. I always try to create a fun and unique lesson for each individual student. Being on time and showing up is important to me so I will always plan ahead and let you know ahead of time if I need to reschedule a lesson. I am so excited to enrich my day just knowing you.
My teaching experience first began when I was married to a man in the Navy and I was hired to teach private piano lessons on the Yokosuka Naval Base back in 1984. I taught piano to the young and not so young people including Japanese speaking students, bilingual speakers as well as English speaking folks. I had just received my Bachelors in Music the year before and this position was rewarding and challenging. I have always believed that music is the International Language and can reach across the language barriers. Since then I have served as a substitute in Florida, and then returned to New Mexico where I taught in Farmington, Los Alamos an now in Albuquerque. It is hard to believe that I have been teaching students how to play a variety of instruments for almost 40 years now but feel energized to be able to focus on teaching privately again. I have have an extremely demanding position with APS, including working with the Mentoring Program where I guided new teachers through their first year, but now, after COVID, I want to focus on rebuilding my private lesson community. I usually have at least a few students who meet me at my home during the week or on weekends. I strive to make the lessons fun and creative, and rewarding while addressing the needs of each individual student. Some students need more help with music theory and music reading, which is my specialty, but I am also happy to work with students who would like to focus more on learning by rote, or by ear, It is my preference however to blend the two styles together for a well rounded learning experience. I would like to present recitals for the parents at least twice a year when possible.
As a beginning student who is starting from "scratch" I use the "Strictly Strings". book 1 for the basic instruction. As the student progresses I will add sheet music or may have a book the student can borrow. I will ask the parent to by a book on occasion especially if the child has a particular interest that would benefit from it, There is a wide variety of materials that a well suited for private lessons, but I have used the Strictly Strings" series of books and collaborative materials. I often will print up a song that the student has found on line to include a variety of materials that will keep the student practicing, I know that most people will practice when the lesson and the music is fun!
My teaching style would probably be classified as Classical. I do teach music reading as a foundation of most of my instruction, however I also work with students who learn better by rote. I take pride in being flexible in my instruction. I do teach from the beginning on how to read music with focus on foundational posture and instrument position. Once that is solid, there is no limit to the students progress. I like to bring in all genre's of music including rock and pop, folksongs, movie tunes just to name a few. I find that students learn quickly when learning music that is already familiar to them. I work with tapping rhythms and singing note names, then learn how to pluck the part and then finally add the bow. This is a step by step process that includes a progressive style of learning that only adds a new skill or concept after the previous one is mastered. I do include listening assignments and play a recording of the piece we are working on to better reach all styles of learning. I try to reach students through visual means as well and audial but most importantly is the tactile experience of feeling the instrument in your hands and to allow the music make you feel emotions that may even be new to you.