Guitar Lessons in Tucson, AZ

Instruments: Violin

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
Definitely the first time I played concertmaster in a collegiate ensemble. One of my most memorable moments as a violinist was playing Lark Ascending in the BW Conservatory Convocation, a prestigious recital where the best people in the school perform. Finally, the greatest highlight of my musical career thus far was performing the Bach Chaconne on my senior recital.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Intonation. If you're playing a piano, if any of the notes are out of tune, it's the piano tuner's fault. Between all of the right notes on a violin's strings are a whole lot of notes that are just barely NOT right, and due to how athletic and intense so much of the violin's repertoire is, it's difficult to have perfect intonation at all times. The tragedy is that that lack of perfect intonation is very noticeable... It's an uphill battle for sure.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I teach out of the Galamian and Flesch scale books, I use Kreutzer for etudes, and as far as repertoire goes, I take many excerpts from Suzuki books.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
The first step is establishing perfect form in the left and right hands. I play a lot of exercises on open strings for my right hand and I spend just as much time building strength and proper shape in the left hand. When my body is optimal condition, I move on to accelerating scales, Galamian style. I then spend about a half hour on etudes before doing slow, detailed work on my repertoire with a metronome and drone.

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 BA in Violin Performance from BW! I decided to pursue this degree because I was good at it and because of how much I loved the school's Conservatory program.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
The Bach Chaconne. Bach holds a special place in my heart, because it is the perfect synthesis of human emotion and masterful technique. No piece exemplifies this more than the Chaconne, which is one of the greatest masterpieces to ever grace the world of classical music.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
In my free time, I love writing, arts and crafts, and my cat, Chip. I'd have to say that I'd be either a writer of a veterinarian!

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
Either Baroque or Contemporary. I love the flowing counterpoint of Baroque music, and I love the eccentric, fresh energy that is carried in all things Contemporary. This is probably because I have a lot of composer friends!

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I don't, but one day, I'd like to learn the viola.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
My grandfather was a music educator specializing in band, and my dad was an excellent saxophone player before he decided to change the direction of his life and focus on English. My mom played the guitar back in her college days.

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
When I started getting more serious about the violin in high school, my life reached a turning point. I was getting better grades. I was becoming a better person. Music changes your life for the better, and experiencing life turns you into a better musician. By senior year, I knew that I wanted to pursue this professionally.

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