Violin Lessons in Atlanta, GA

Instruments: Piano Violin Viola Fiddle Music Keyboard

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
When I was 12 years old my teacher at the time held a mini competition for us. We were all going to see a concert filled with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. She asked us to find out as much as we could about him...and being quite competitive I spent the entire week scouring the internet for any interesting details I could find! I listened to so much of his music, and I just remember being in awe. I was so inspired by him, and that was when I decided that if he could do it then I wanted to devote my life to music too. I have been absolutely hooked ever since!

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I absolutely love psychology and figuring out how peoples' minds work. In fact, that's one of the things I love so much about teaching. Figuring out how someone learns most effectively and brainstorming fun solutions to those problems together is so much fun!

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have a degree in violin performance. I chose performance because to me there is nothing like the exhilarating rush I get from being onstage. It offers a unique way of connecting with people and telling a story. I love pouring my heart into a performance, entering into a world all my own, and bringing others into that experience.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
The famous Meditation from the opera Thais by Jules Massenet is probably my favorite thing to play. It's melancholic yet hopeful in such a beautifully pure way. It's the story of a sinner named Thais coming to repentance. It depicts her journey from sin to the inner turmoil she experiences as she discovers the truth, her confusion and anguish as she reflects on her life, and her ultimate redemption. It is beautifully written, and originally features a solo violin. I absolutely adore the journey of emotions we go on along with Thais. The peace she feels at the end is so evident and brings out a sense of hope and joy for the listener.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I really emphasize playing in a comfortable relaxed, natural way, so the beginning of my practice sessions are always the absolute basics. I like to pay attention to every single movement and make sure there is no tension anywhere. I focus on getting my arms, hands, and fingers moving the way they should. I also check in with my back and shoulders to make sure there is no tension there. Once I am confident my form is working smoothly, I like to do some long, slow bows. I focus on breathing and drawing the sound out of my violin. Next I like to check my hand frame and get my intonation working well. There are a number of different exercises I do for the bow, bow hand, and left hand, whatever I feel is weakest that day is what I focus in on. Next I like to do my scale and arpeggio routine, and add some double stops. After that I most often concentrate on some etudes like Rhode, Kreutzer, Schradiak, or Sevcik. I like to fit in some solo Bach and Paganini into my practice routine as well. After that I typically do some exercises that focus in on problem areas for the repertoire I am working on, and then I go to the repertoire itself. I also like to reserve some time to work on music for any upcoming chamber or orchestra concerts. Throughout my practice sessions, it's important to me to take lots of breaks, make sure I am not playing with any tension, and be sure that I am focusing on staying relaxed and playing with proper technique. I like to keep track of what I'm practicing. Before I begin I usually jot down some goals and some things I want to get through for that practice session. I find it helps me stay focused and keeps me on task. Of course, every practice session is different depending on the amount of time I have and what is going on at the time, but when I do a full practice routine these are the sorts of things that I usually focus on.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
When I was 9 years old I heard family friends playing violin. I absolutely fell in love with the sound...and the rest is history! Although I have also played other instruments, violin will always have a very special place in my heart.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
Watching my students perform Frozen, Jr. while teaching elementary school! I was absolutely bursting with pride watching them succeed onstage in front of their family, friends, and teachers. I remembered all the hard work they had done to get them to that point, and was so proud of all the progress they made to get them to that point. During one performance in particular, multiple illnesses and some very bad news left several young actors stricken and extremely upset. Yet somehow they all worked together, took "the show must go on!" to heart, and poured their hearts into the second act. Later people told me they didn't even realize anything was wrong. Considering the number and magnitude of the things that were completely out of their control going wrong, their feat was nothing short of extraordinary, and it made me so incredibly proud of them to see how they were able to work together to overcome adversity in that way, set it all aside as they walked onstage, and just give an outstanding performance. I would say that is hands down my favorite memory of teaching at that school. Even though the accomplishment was theirs, that night my "teacher heart" was a little extra full.

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