Philosophy

"Your body is the harp of your soul. And it is yours to bring forth sweet music from it or confused sounds."~Khalil Gibran

Here are some things you will work on in lessons with Colleen:

• How to set and reach desired goals that are truly authentic and help to define the role of music in your life whether you are headed for a major music conservatory or simply want to continue to grow as a violinist and musician
• How to uncover your unique voice through the violin
• How to develop time management and discipline skills
• How to develop coordination and fine motor skills
• How to  listen deeply, constructively and non-judgmentally
• ​How the use of the body effects both technique and musical expression
• Learn some basic premises of the Alexander Technique and applied anatomy which will help you  to continue to play your instrument with ease and free of injury

I offer private lessons for violinists  as well as a performance class for all instruments age 13 and up. I also offer a chamber music class for middle and high school students and a chamber music workshop for adults.  If you think you could benefit from working with me, I am anxious to meet you! Contact me to schedule an initial consultation.

"Colleen is an incredibly inspiring, supportive, and effective violin teacher. I leave each lesson  thinking differently about how I play. Colleen's teaching is grounded in her knowledge of the body, which has greatly decreased my pain while playing and helped with injury prevention. While working with Colleen, I started my journey to find more ease and release in my playing. Colleen challenged the notion I had internalized that working hard while practicing violin must also feel hard, resulting in tension - I soon found that my intonation, musicality, rhythm, and overall technique improved and felt more natural when I was able to release that tension. I am a more confident, curious, and thoughtful musician because of Colleen!"

~Rohini Narayanan, private student now enrolled at Wellesley College

“Colleen is a wonderfully inspiring and supportive teacher, who has always been willing to respond to my interests in music and violin. She provides the perfect balance between challenge and encouragement, and has greatly helped to shape me into a confident and competent musician.” 

~Galen Winsor, private student now enrolled at Brown University

One of the (many!) reasons I was excited to take violin lessons with Colleen was that I hoped her knowledge of body awareness work would help me reduce the physical pain of playing violin. After two years working with her, I’m seeing a real improvement—a huge relief. But I’ve also been delighted to realize that the work we’ve done with body awareness has also led me to a lovelier sound, an easier and more varied vibrato, and the freedom to explore more musical colors and expressivity in my playing. Colleen is always so supportive and encouraging and is so creative as a teacher and musician—lessons with her are truly such a pleasure.

~Amelia Perron, freelance musician and Summer Workshop Administrative Director at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music

"Colleen is a talented musician and a committed, conscientious teacher. She skillfully shares her musicianship and broad experience with her students. She also anchors her instruction in a deep knowledge of the body: how it moves and how it works. This information helps her students develop the precise physical coordination necessary to improve technique, prevent injury, and develop self-expression."

~Missy Vineyard, Alexander Technique Teacher and founder of the Alexander Technique School New England