Teacher
As a teacher, Bonnie embodies qualities of patience, kindness, and enthusiasm. She believes that understanding how music works is essential, so she places emphasis on scales and incorporates discussions about music theory and history into each lesson, relating them to the repertoire being studied. Bonnie also fosters a sense of community and connection within her studio by offering opportunities for students to join the Scale Club, which holds fun group classes 3-4 times a year. Additionally, Bonnie organizes Spring and Winter recitals annually, providing students with goals to work towards and a chance to learn from their peers.
Bonnie takes a personalized approach for each student, recognizing that no two students are the same. She utilizes various series, such as Suzuki, the Blue Book Series, and Adventures in ViolinLand, depending on the student’s age and prior experience. She supplements with other books or exercises as necessary. Students are encouraged to suggest pieces they would like to learn, resulting in a diverse repertoire ranging from SmashMouth’s “I’m a Believer” to Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” to the theme music from Genshin Impact and other anime series. Bonnie creates a welcoming environment where students feel comfortable being themselves, asking questions, making mistakes, and growing. Her teaching not only provides students with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of music but also instills the value of hard work and the enjoyment of music.
parent reviews sentiment_very_satisfied
Bonnie has been a great teacher for our son. He has been playing violin for five years, and she has been his teacher throughout that time. She knows how to handle little boy goofiness and make lessons fun, but she has also been very supportive as he has climbed into youth orchestra, district honors orchestra, and all-state orchestra. Highly recommend!— Christine H.
My daughter has been taking violin lessons from Bonnie for over 2½ years and still loves it. Bonnie is excellent with children. She is witty and playful, yet able to keep my daughter on track. Bonnie draws from her extensive background in theory and developmental techniques and custom designs her lessons according to the teaching needs of her students. For example, she utilizes flashcards with my daughter to teach note reading. She has creative terms for proper and improper hand placement and technique that kids love, Like a “pizza wrist” (bent wrist). In addition, Bonnie rewards her students’ progress with treats they enjoy. She also includes 2 recitals per year to encourage practice and performance and hosts periodic “scale kingdoms” on Saturday as an impetus for young musicians to master their scales. We are so grateful for such an amazing violin teacher. — Tasha J.
My 11 year old son has been taking viola lessons with Bonnie for three years now and we have been very blessed to have found such a fantastic teacher. Right from the get go Bonnie was able to connect with my son. She is very attentive and patient. She has a wonderful quality of being able to assess her students abilities and interests and tailor the lessons towards her students needs and interests. Bonnie's energy , enthusiasm, and nurturing encouragement keeps my son motivated and inspires joyfulness in learning how to play. The best parts are hearing my son have a duet session with his teacher. My son will play the viola and she will accompany him on the violin. We are so grateful for Bonnie. My son looks forward to every lesson with her each week and is excited to come home and practice. I highly recommend her. — Sarah V.
Bonnie is brilliant! We have taken lessons with Bonnie for several years now and I’m constantly impressed with her ability to adapt and relate with my son. She is measured and deliberate where it matters, but also provides an environment that has plenty of room for fun and play. My son loves his lessons with Bonnie. He looks forward to them and talks about what he learned and the fun he had after. My son is 12 and is indifferent on almost everything else he does, but he loves learning from Bonnie. As I said, Bonnie is brilliant and she deserves a medal for all the young lives she’s giving the gift of music to. Thank you Bonnie! — Mark S.
Bonnie has been a great gift for our son. She inspires him to want to do better, be better. He has true joy when playing with her, which translates to his playing at home and elsewhere. We are so grateful for Bonnie and her amazing talent as a teacher, mentor, and friend. — Sabra B.
n addition to being a talented musician, Bonnie is an amazing teacher! As an adult student, I'm glad that I found such a kind, patient and positive person as Bonnie to teach me how to play the fiddle. It took her no time at all to assess my abilities and interests, and then build a comprehensive plan that made lessons fun and challenging. Bonnie has a wonderful ability to relate to people. Her enthusiasm is contagious! I would highly recommend her as a teacher regardless of age or skill level. — Dale H.
When my daughter was 10, she decided she wanted to play the viola. I didn't want my daughter to be totally in the dark, as the other students in orchestra would have already been playing for a full school year. So, I reached out to Bonnie for private lessons. By the end of the third lesson, my daughter was playing a tune! Bonnie is so patient and encouraging with her students, and she is always smiling. Two years later, my daughter is still taking lessons with Bonnie, and she looks forward to her lesson every week! — Laury S.
My daughter has been taking weekly lessons from Bonnie for several years. One of the things parents of new violin students dislike is the tone new players have. To Bonnie's credit, the uncomfortable squeakiness that often accompanies beginning violin students is seldom present in her students' work, as is demonstrated in the student recitals. Bonnie's work on all aspects of technique has set her apart from other instructors my daughter has had, and has made me more comfortable hearing violin practice. Bonnie also takes time to discover other, related interests her students have and works those interests into lessons, helping keep students interested. Bonnie's supportive and encouraging instruction has helped my daughter enjoy the violin very much. — Robert K.
My 7-year-old daughter has had the pleasure of being one of Teacher Bonnie’s violin students for this past school year. We could not have asked for a better violin teacher! Bonnie is warm, kind, funny, supportive, and encouraging. She has a true gift to connect with her students and make it fun. She challenges them to play their best, build a good foundation with proper technique, and keep trying even if it is tricky. Thanks to Bonnie, my daughter spends most of her lesson smiling and leaves with a new level of confidence. My daughter’s enjoyment for playing violin stems from Teacher Bonnie’s positive teaching methods and warm personality. She has been a perfect fit for our family and we are so grateful to have found her. — Rosa H.
Our daughter has been a student of Bonnie's from 3rd grade up to high school. We knew immediately that Bonnie was the perfect fit. She is engaging, funny, and kind. Lessons are a highlight of the week! With Bonnie's encouragement, our daughter has joined several school and community orchestras. Bonnie is always willing to help with an extra lesson to help prepare for a chair audition. There is only one Bonnie, and we are so fortunate to have found her! — Angeline A.