Hi, I'm Miss Cassie
I'm a native Western New Yorker who has been teaching private music lessons for over 20 years. I'm a graduate of Houghton University, where I received a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education. Piano was my major instrument, but I'm also an accomplished percussionist. While living in Virginia, I was a percussionist with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble. I am currently a percussionist with the Southern Tier Symphony and occaisionally also play with the Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra and Buffalo Wind Symphony. I am the worship leader at my church and play either keyboard or drum set regularly. I also play in many local high school pit orchestras throughout the year. My two oldest children and I enjoy playing for local communities in our family band, Cadiz Junction..
I am passionate about teaching music, especially to younger students. I hope that each student will leave my studio with the ability to play for pleasure throughout their lifetime. I take seriously the task of finding enjoyable music to work on for each unique student, understanding that there are many different learning styles and personalities and preferences for music styles. I believe that learning is easiest when it's fun, so I incorporate many games as I teach foundational musical ideas.
I am not an official "Suzuki Teacher", but I have read and learned much about Shinichi Suzuki's method. His words have helped me to put into focus what my main goals are as a private music teacher. I believe that music is a gift from God and anyone who is properly taught can develop musical skill, just as we all learn to speak. The potential of every child is unlimited, if we only give them space to try and fail, and be encouraged to try again.
Hi, I'm Miss Katie
I began my musical journey at age four when my parents signed me up for violin lessons. Since then I have enjoyed studying both classical and bluegrass music. I grew up as a member of the Western New York Fiddle Kids, occasionally performing on mandolin and piano as well as fiddle, and the Southtowns Youth Orchestra, where I won their concerto competition in my senior year of high school. In my junior and senior years of high school I was invited to play in the Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra's Youth Side-by-Side Concert. I also love musical theater and enjoy playing in pit orchestras for surrounding local schools. I am currently a violin major at Houghton University and enjoy spending the summer months playing in local communities in our family band, Cadiz Junction.
Violin is such a big part of my life, and I love sharing that passion with the students I see each week. Their unique strengths and weaknesses are victories and challenges to celebrate as we learn together the value and beauty of discipline through music.
