John D  
Instruments: Violin, Cello, Viola, Fiddle, Double Bass
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, Gospel, Opera, Showtunes, Spirituals, Soul

My teaching experience dates back to my student teaching experience in 1979 from Truman State University.  From Truman State University I went on to teach public school Orchestra in Helena, Montana, Kansas City, Missouri area, Marshall, Missouri, Kirksville, Missouri, and finally to Fulton, Missouri.  I have a total teaching experience of 37 years in both the public school setting and in my private studio.  My goal is to encourage regular practice on a consistent schedule which is a major key to success.  If a student has an half hour lesson, I encourage them to practice daily a half hour five days per week.  If a student has an hour lesson, then I expect practicing an hour daily five days per week.  I also like to involve parents especially of younger students to be involved with and in their childs practice.    My goal is to encourage students through praise.  My students are encouraged to enter competitions and recitals, both formal and informal.  I feel the best way to over come stage fright in a student is through playing their solo/group pieces in a non-threatening, informal environment such as before other students, family, friends, church services, and low keyed activities such as street fairs.

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Belwin Course for Strings, String Builder.  Once the student has progressed to have a knowledge of the fundamentals, I begin to introduce solo repertoire from the Suzuki method.  I continue hand-in-hand the String Builder and Suzuki methods.  I also have group classes where students learn to play as an ensemble, such as duets quartets, and string ensembles/orchestra.  

For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons interesting and fun, no matter their ability level.  One final method to encourage students to learn and broaden their musical experience is by attending concerts both non-professional and professional.  This can be done through the traditional classical approach, but also in the popular-rock concerts such as The Two Cellos or The Portland Cello Project.