About me… hmmm.

          Well, I guess I could write a page filled with all of the wonderful highlights in my musical career – listing all of the names and places that I have concertized or with whom I have studied. However, I’m not sure if that would display how qualified I am to teach, or mean much to the average person wanting music lessons. So, perhaps I will simply mention the main musical milestones and talk more about … well, who I am (the person who will show up at your door) and the expectations and commitments I have with my students.

          To be brief, I started violin at age three and piano at age seven. (Thanks mom and dad!) I started with the Suzuki Method and then went to a traditional teacher when I was around twelve-years-old. At twelve, I studied at the Palm Beach School of the Arts (currently the Bak School of the Arts; Dreyfoos School of the Arts). I was the main concertmaster there as well as with the Palm Beach Youth Symphony. I was also first violin all throughout middle and high school with the Florida Youth Orchestra, University of Miami Honors Youth Orchestra, as well as the All State Orchestras. At fourteen, I studied with Sergiu Schwartz at the Harid Conservatory (Lynn University Conservatory). At sixteen, I was accepted to the New World School of the Arts into the college dual-enrollment program (yes, I was one of those geeks) and studied with Felicia Moore. Then I went to New York and received a degree in violin from the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College and studied with Margret Pardee and Todd Philips.

          As a performer, I guess you could say that I have been playing professionally since thirteen, and have had the enormous pleasure in performing throughout the United States, Asia and Europe in my early twenties. But since my late teen years, my love for teaching music manifested until I decided to dedicate myself exclusively to my students.

          I started getting serious about teaching after college, around 22-years-old, when I taught at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. I taught violin, chamber music, orchestra, and group classes. I had such a great time teaching that I thought this might be my calling. The positive response that I received from parents and students encouraged me to continue a pedagogical path.

          One of the best things about teaching is seeing the developments and achievements of my students. I taught a five-year-old girl who performed on Sesame Street (not to many kids actually meet Elmo!) plus Sesame Street had me teach a violin lesson on one of their episodes. A 6-year-old student of mine was invited to audition to the Juilliard School. Another 6-year-old boy was the youngest violinist to ever play with the New York Children’s Orchestra. Several of my students play with the Youth Orchestras of Florida, have won high places and prizes in competitions, and have received acceptance to the Bak and Dreyfoos School of the Arts. I am so proud of all of them!

          As far as my own personal ambition, I have started the Boca Music School, which currently offers a few musical items for sale and, of course, music lessons. The plans ahead include the development of my own music method and building the Boca Music School.

          In addition to music, I love science. I used to be a premed student at Columbia University as well as a chemistry student at Florida Atlantic University. I also love to paint, cook, sing and focus on becoming the best mom to my beautiful daughter, Kristine, and the best wife to my husband, Jay. Although I don’t like the hot weather, I moved back to Florida and now reside in Boca Raton with my family… with the AC very low!

          So… that’s basically me in a nutshell. As you can see, teaching is not just a job for me… it is where my heart is. I look forward to meeting you and your family with hopes of nurturing that musical seed that I have seen bloom in so many of my students.