About

Tradition

I had a wonderful teacher growing up. He was an inspiring role model and a talented violinist who played for the Long Beach Symphony. I have fond memories of those lessons, and I’ll always be grateful for his patience, wisdom, and how I could talk to him about pretty much anything. There were clear expectations, and although he was always challenging me, the goals we set were always attainable as long as I put in the effort.

This is the tradition that I’ve built on ever since I got into teaching. It has been one of the great joys of my life nurturing the love of music and seeing my students grow as people. Former students of mine have won scholarships, attained high levels of mastery, and even begun promising careers in music. To be honest though, I’m just as proud of my students who have found their artistic voice through the violin and continue to play for the pure enjoyment of it. I’ve always seen myself as an encouraging guide who shows students the path to reach their goals, whatever they may be.

The Road So Far

I began playing the violin in 1994 when I turned 7, after a year of bugging my parents and walking around outside drawing sticks across an imaginary instrument. I took lessons and participated in every orchestra I could through grade school, eventually being awarded The National School Orchestra Award by my high school conductor. I won a partial scholarship through my violin audition with CSU, Long Beach and earned my BA in Music in 2010. During my time there I took a special interest in the Baroque-era chamber ensemble and worked my way up to Assistant Concertmaster. My deep appreciation for classical music has continued into my professional life, where I’ve played for various local orchestras, string quartets, and even musical theatre.

Alongside my classical training, I began learning Irish fiddling as a teenager with a friend of mine who used to play during lunch on a grassy knoll. The interest I had in Irish fiddling grew into a love of bluegrass and put me on a path of creative string playing that would open up a world of possibilities and dramatically change my life from there on out. Since then I’ve played extensively in a post-rock instrumental band called Mandelenda, a bluegrass band called Big Bad Rooster, and a folk-inspired punk band called Hoist the Colors. I’ve recorded several albums with these bands, meanwhile playing countless shows with my brother and some of my best friends, touring and performing our music for thousands of people both locally and nationally.

Legacy

I mention all of this to highlight the vast experience I have as a musician that I continue to pass onto my students. All of my students learn proper form and technique, which will set them up for success on the instrument years down the road. They’ll learn how to read sheet music, sight-reading, ear training, and music theory, which will give them a deeper understanding of music and allow them to improvise or compose if they choose to explore their creativity. A big part of my job is to teach them exactly how to practice, so that the time they spend at home is effective and productive. I take time to learn my students interests and musical tastes so we can focus on music that resonates with them. Once we have chosen our music, I draw on my experience as a teacher to design custom lesson plans and an onramp of exercises and material that will propel them towards those musical goals. 

As I continue to grow as a musician and as a teacher, I plan on continuing to nurture that love of music in my students and hope that one day they will look back and think about how much fun they had learning this special instrument. I want to thank you for trusting me with you and your family’s music education and allowing me the opportunity to accompany you on your journey.