Teaching
My aim is to guide students to
- comfort, confidence, and skill with the instrument
- an attitude of curiosity and open-minded problem-solving
- an understanding of tradition and history
- a free, playful, intelligent approach to improvising and creating
- playing that expresses depth of feeling and an appreciation of each tune’s unique character
My approach is student-centered: my goal is to meet each student where s/he is and facilitate finding the next steps and the wider view. I have deep respect for the traditions I’m privileged to carry, and deep respect also for individual creativity and the unending possibilities in music.
In teaching workshops and groups, I aim to keep each person comfortable, challenged, and listening well to each other. I enjoy coaching existing groups on musicianship and ensemble skills.
Lessons I offer include, at various levels:
- Swedish, Southern Appalachian, Irish, bluegrass, English, Quebecois, and Klezmer fiddling
- jazz and blues
- classical violin
- improvisation
- theory and harmony
- skills for playing by ear
- skills for reading and writing music
- practice skills
- how to accompany vocals
Workshops
- Swedish music for fiddles
- Swedish music for any instrument
- traditions from Dalarna
- improvisation
- dance band (contra, English, Scandinavian)
- harmony
- I Love to Practice
- skills for fiddle teachers
Groups
Scandia DC Spelmannslag is open to any musician. We meet on the third Saturday of the month (Sept.–May) from 7–8:30pm in Greenbelt, MD, to rehearse and play for dancing. I share leadership with Loretta Kelley, Göran Ohlsson, and others. Repertoire and other details are posted on the Scandia DC website. www.scandiadc.org
