Mari D
Instruments: Violin, Viola, Music
Styles: Classical, Pop, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Showtunes
Mari D
Instruments: Violin, Viola, Music
Styles:
Classical, Pop, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Showtunes
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
Dean’s Medal for Career Innovation at NU
Dean’s Medal for Community Building at UCLA
Taught over 100 students so far
I’m a multi-faceted violinist, educator, and entrepreneur. From my earliest memories, classical music has been an integral part of my life. I began my violin training at the age of four and continued pre-college studies as a merit scholarship student at The Colburn School in Los Angeles and at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. I went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from UCLA, earning a Bachelor’s in Violin Performance with minors in Music Industry and Entrepreneurship. In June 2023, I graduated with a Master’s degree at Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music. Passionate about orchestral playing, I have held concertmaster and principal positions with the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, South Side Symphony, Santa Monica Symphony, UCLA Philharmonia, Colburn orchestras, American Youth Symphony, and the Debut Orchestra. I have also been lucky enough to tour globally to France, Russia, Finland, and Estonia. Presently, I am building my teaching studio throughout the Chicago area. I am a registered Suzuki teacher through Book 3 and love teaching students of all ages and abilities. I aim to highlight the joy that learning music brings. Music has been a foundation in all facets of my life, teaching lifelong skills such as tenacity, patience, and a love for collaboration and I hope to share that with my students. I believe in building a strong foundation that leads to beautiful tone, minimal pain, and long-term enjoyment. In my spare time, I am a voracious reader of fiction, an avid hiker, and a baker in training.
I am a certified Suzuki teacher (and a Suzuki kid myself!). I have taken Suzuki training through Book 3, though do teach books beyond that level. I have been teaching for over 10 years in all different settings-- private lessons, group classes, elementary school side-by-side programs, and love it all. I believe people of all backgrounds, whether children or adults, have the capability of learning an instrument because we all have an innate musical side to us. I emphasize a strong foundation so that we can hone in on a beautiful tone, minimal pain, and long-term enjoyment.
I love using the Suzuki method for skill building, but I also believe that students should be musically literate! I utilize supplemental books, such as "I Can Read Music," Essential Elements, and other sight-reading materials to encourage note-reading from the get-go. All of my students, including those who are 4 years old read notes. I emphasize etudes (studies), scales, warm-ups, physical stretches, and favorite songs of my students as part of a balanced repertoire. I always encourage my students to let me know what songs they love, whether it's by Queen or Taylor Swift, so that we can incorporate their love for music in more than one way.
I find the learning process to be so fun as an educator, as I believe we learn life skills through challenge, goal setting, and accomplishments. What better way to learn how we are motivated and how we build work ethic than through a difficult instrument! To me, I understand every student is unique and so I don't just have 1 way of teaching. Each lesson is tailored to my individual student and I help them progress at his or her own pace. I set realistic practice goals every week with tangible tools to achieve them, so that my students can leave the lesson knowing HOW to practice at home.
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