“Music is the language of the heart without words.”

I cannot remember a time in my life that did not include music and the violin. I began learning to play the violin at the age of three. My entire childhood was filled with lessons, rehearsals, concerts, and travel for rehearsals and concerts. I loved every minute of it. When it came time to decide on a career and college degree program, it was an easy decision to choose music education. I spent eighteen wonderful years teaching band, orchestra, choir, elementary music, and music theater in public schools with some time off in the middle to spend with my wonderful children and husband. Now that my children are grown, I have the opportunity to start a Suzuki violin and cello studio in my home in Elizabeth and share the joy I feel for performing music with a new generation of children.

The Suzuki method was developed in Japan by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. Dr. Suzuki believed that children should learn to play an instrument as they are learning spoken language. The teacher and the parent work together to nurture the child’s musical development. Parents attend lessons and learn along with their child so they can continue the instruction at home. My own mother bought a violin and played alongside me until I was twelve. Early learning is done completely by rote. The child listens and imitates the teacher. The teacher plays and teaches the sequenced repertoire with sensitivity to articulation, dynamics, intonation, and, in this way, the child learns to hear the nuances in the music that make it beautiful.

Throughout my career as a music educator, I have tried to hold on to the idea that the job of the teacher is to nurture children to hear and create music on their own. My life would have been so much different if my mother had not enrolled me in Suzuki violin school all of those years ago. I look forward to sharing this wonderful approach to learning violin and cello with a new generation of children.