Lessons
Cathy currently gives private lessons in the following locations:
- Gitterpicker String Factory in Twinsburg, Ohio on Monday and Thursday evenings. A few lesson times are still available. Call 330-487-1171 for more information or to arrange a sample lesson.
- Woody’s Music in Medina, Ohio on the square on Tuesday afternoon/evenings and Saturday mornings. Call (330) 725-8575 for availability.
Teaching Philsophy
I love to teach.
I love watching a student progress and push through obstacles in order to play to the best of their ability. The art of teaching is as intricate as the music our students are learning, and requires that we work just as hard to continually grow as educators. I learn how to be a better teacher every time a student has a lesson.
Often at a gig, an adult will tell me how they wished they had studied an instrument, and worry that now it’s too late. It is not — adults make the best students! They know that nothing will be gained unless you practice and devote time to learning. They are well aware of the cost of learning an instrument (in both time and money) and appreciate the opportunity the more for that awareness. It is never too late to learn: my youngest student right now is 6, and my oldest is 72. There is never a better time than the present!
I teach students of all ages and levels and believe that the curriculum should reflect the student’s interests, not necessarily a standard formula. I incorporate alternative styles and ideas to motivate the student and make learning music fun. I use fiddle tune books to refine the student’s technique as well as encourage them to play outside the staff and the written note. This helps develop an ability to improvise, feel the style of the music and ultimately wander away from the printed page entirely. If the student strictly wishes to study fiddle technique, I have several books upon which I rely that impart the particular ornamentations employed by the varying fiddle styles.
I offer praise and encouragement for students as they achieve, as I believe that a positive environment makes learning more rewarding. I offer incentives for students to earn and coordinate student recitals/open mics. I think that performance is good for the soul (if not the nerves) and helps foster the discipline required to play well.
Most importantly, I want my students to enjoy playing. I want them to love their instrument and the way they make it speak their mind. I want them to be able to fully express themselves in the language of music, in whatever form or style they choose.
