Who I am
I began teaching music in Wisconsin in 2008. In that time, I have taught hundreds of private students and thousands of public school students at all ages, kindergarten through high school, first in the Madison schools and later in the Oregon School District.
As a teacher, I want to help create a world where people are more centered in a sense of beauty in their daily lives and are equipped, through imagination and self-discipline, to penetrate deeply into all aspects of the musical arts. I am inspired by the endless potential to learn and grow in every individual and seek to help my students see and develop their greatest capacities as gifts to the world.
Music has been a central part of my life since I was a small child, growing up in the home of two public school music teachers in Omaha. I fell in love with music through early choral experiences, but in high school and college studied both cello and trumpet.
I specialize in historical music, and particularly love teaching bowed string instruments, but love music of all kinds, including all the standard classical music, jazz, great popular music, and unusual experimental music.
What I do
Education
B. Music Education, Northern Illinois University
Master of Music, Cello Performance, UW-Madison
Teaching Experience
Private cello studio, private viola da gamba studio, and occasional trumpet student, teacher in the Viola da Gamba Society of America's national Consort Loan Program, director of the VdGSA's "Young Players' Weekend," cello teacher at the Blue Lake Family Suzuki Camp, cello and orchestra teacher at the Suzuki Association of Wisconsin Winter Retreat, viola da gamba teacher at Madison Early Music Festival, chamber music coach at Madison Bach Musicians Summer Chamber Music Workshop, and orchestra teacher in the Madison Metro and Oregon School Districts
Performance Credits
Historical Performance
viola da gamba and baroque cello
Wisconsin Baroque Ensemble
Madison Bach Musicians
Musica Maxima
Just Bach Concerts
Theater
American Player's Theater - Gift of the Magi
Improvisation and experimental sound
Basidium
Song Writers
Katie Burns
Satchel Paige (of the famed Cafe Carpe)
Other Performance credits I have loved
Madison Youth Choirs
Arbor Vitae String Quartet
Generations Baroque
Madison Choral Project
Wisconsin Chamber Choir
Rural Musician's Forum
Poemsong
Teachers
I have had many teachers and am grateful to all of them. Some of them maybe did one small thing that changed the course of my life, others gave me hours, even years of their time.
Have you ever tried to think of all the people that taught you something in your life? I could write a whole book about them.
I even find that I keep encountering new teachers every year, I hope that I can help others as much as they have helped me.
It will be impossible to list them all, so here are just a few relevant to music.
Cello
Gregory Clinton (Omaha Symphony)
Marc Johnson (Vermeer Quartet)
Parry Karp (Pro Arte Quartet)
Viola da Gamba
Like many viol players, I never formally studied the viol, having come to it later in life, but pieced together an education by grabbing lessons when I could while performing on the instrument as much as possible.
I am extremely grateful to the following players for their encouragement and lessons: Gail Schroeder,
David Morris , Lisa Terry, Josh Lee, and Cathy Meints,
Trumpet
Joel Edwards (freelancer in Omaha, NE)
Dr. Mark Ponzo (retired professor from Northern Illinois University)
I began teaching music in Wisconsin in 2008. In that time, I have taught hundreds of private students and thousands of public school students at all ages, kindergarten through high school, first in the Madison schools and later in the Oregon School District.
As a teacher, I want to help create a world where people are more centered in a sense of beauty in their daily lives and are equipped, through imagination and self-discipline, to penetrate deeply into all aspects of the musical arts. I am inspired by the endless potential to learn and grow in every individual and seek to help my students see and develop their greatest capacities as gifts to the world.
Music has been a central part of my life since I was a small child, growing up in the home of two public school music teachers in Omaha. I fell in love with music through early choral experiences, but in high school and college studied both cello and trumpet.
I specialize in historical music, and particularly love teaching bowed string instruments, but love music of all kinds, including all the standard classical music, jazz, great popular music, and unusual experimental music.
What I do
- Suzuki cello teacher - all ages and levels
- Orchestra teacher and chamber music coach, In addition to advanced cello students, I can also set-up and coach violin, viola, and bass up to an intermediate level.
- Cellist (baroque and modern)
- Viola da Gambist
- Trumpet player - mostly only improvised music at this point in my life.
- Trumpet teacher - beginning and intermediate
- Suzuki Parent - I have sons who play violin, studying with a Suzuki teacher. It has been a delight to be a Suzuki parent and I believe has helped give me more insight into how to best serve the entire family of my students!
- Dabbling - I have a huge collection of instruments and can play a little guitar, banjo, and piano and have recently started learning to tune and maintain pianos.
Education
B. Music Education, Northern Illinois University
Master of Music, Cello Performance, UW-Madison
Teaching Experience
Private cello studio, private viola da gamba studio, and occasional trumpet student, teacher in the Viola da Gamba Society of America's national Consort Loan Program, director of the VdGSA's "Young Players' Weekend," cello teacher at the Blue Lake Family Suzuki Camp, cello and orchestra teacher at the Suzuki Association of Wisconsin Winter Retreat, viola da gamba teacher at Madison Early Music Festival, chamber music coach at Madison Bach Musicians Summer Chamber Music Workshop, and orchestra teacher in the Madison Metro and Oregon School Districts
Performance Credits
Historical Performance
viola da gamba and baroque cello
Wisconsin Baroque Ensemble
Madison Bach Musicians
Musica Maxima
Just Bach Concerts
Theater
American Player's Theater - Gift of the Magi
Improvisation and experimental sound
Basidium
Song Writers
Katie Burns
Satchel Paige (of the famed Cafe Carpe)
Other Performance credits I have loved
Madison Youth Choirs
Arbor Vitae String Quartet
Generations Baroque
Madison Choral Project
Wisconsin Chamber Choir
Rural Musician's Forum
Poemsong
Teachers
I have had many teachers and am grateful to all of them. Some of them maybe did one small thing that changed the course of my life, others gave me hours, even years of their time.
Have you ever tried to think of all the people that taught you something in your life? I could write a whole book about them.
I even find that I keep encountering new teachers every year, I hope that I can help others as much as they have helped me.
It will be impossible to list them all, so here are just a few relevant to music.
Cello
Gregory Clinton (Omaha Symphony)
Marc Johnson (Vermeer Quartet)
Parry Karp (Pro Arte Quartet)
Viola da Gamba
Like many viol players, I never formally studied the viol, having come to it later in life, but pieced together an education by grabbing lessons when I could while performing on the instrument as much as possible.
I am extremely grateful to the following players for their encouragement and lessons: Gail Schroeder,
David Morris , Lisa Terry, Josh Lee, and Cathy Meints,
Trumpet
Joel Edwards (freelancer in Omaha, NE)
Dr. Mark Ponzo (retired professor from Northern Illinois University)