My teaching philosophy is based on the belief that if I am able to give my students all the problem solving tools they need, they should be equipped to teach themselves.  I hope to develop in each of my students the capacity to think on an analytical and technical level, the ability to listen conscientiously, and the tools to put the two together to fulfill their musical ideas.  I deeply believe that a person's playing is a reflection of their personality, so above all, I wish for my students to be good people with a true appreciation for music and the art of playing an instrument.     

My teaching method varies based on individual student's needs, age, and playing level.  I have taught students as young as four to adults taking up cello for the first time at age 40.  For my young students, I highly recommend beginning with the Suzuki method because of its focus on ear training and step-by-step learning.  Many students also come to me after beginning cello in orchestra in school where they have had no one-on-one instruction.  I generally have these students on a more traditional program where we use the Suzuki material to facilitate learning technique that they may have missed out on in school, in addition to supplementing that with other material, depending on their playing level.