My favorite teacher was an incredible violinist whom I met when I was 14.

He taught me that music surrounds us, in all that we are and all that we do.

Music is in the singing birds, the whispering wind, the crashing waves, and - most of all - in the comforting silence. He taught me to be still and listen before playing, to join in with the music already happening all around us, rather than interrupting the music of the universe.

 

He taught me to play with my whole heart and soul, and taught me that playing music is reaching for something greater than ourselves, something that allows us to join in and play a part. Through him, I found my voice, and with it a profound sense of purpose and belonging.

 

He instilled in me a lifelong love and dedication to music, something which has been the source of so much love, peace, and joy over the years. Music has colored every part of my life in the most beautiful way imaginable and left an indelible mark on who I am as an individual. I will be eternally grateful to him for giving me such a beautiful gift.

​

His influence shaped more than just my perception of music. He was the first person to really see ME and care about ME. In the middle of such a tumultuous time in my life, his presence was a force far more grounding than I even realized at the time. His faith in me gave me the confidence to pursue a career in music and was the driving factor to my ultimate success as a professional musician.

 

But his influence reached far beyond the 4 strings of my violin. Having the joy and peace of music has both saved my life and made my life worth living. He gave me something to strive for, something outside of myself and my circumstances upon which to focus. While I am a very different person now than I was back then, I like to think that he is out there somewhere, smiling at me and proud of me for the individual I have become and for the things I have accomplished. My students hear me talk about him a lot, and indeed, I will always carry those lessons with me as I strive to share those lessons and that level of care and dedication with my own students.

​

While he has since passed on, I will always strive to honor his legacy in every note I play and every lesson I teach. His memory fuels the fires of my passion for music as I do my best to carry on his legacy.

 

I hope that along the way, you too can find something meaningful in the journey, and I hope that you too can feel the power and warmth and LOVE that is MUSIC.