Ann Felder is in her 37th year of teaching in a career that has included orchestra, piano, music theory, elementary general music, literary elements of film, remedial reading, theater, health, and overseeing virtual second grade.
Read MoreThe husband and wife duo of José Ramos and Rachel Peña are having a huge impact on students in Knoxville. Starting with José’s program at Beaumont Magnet Academy and then into Rachel’s Bearden Middle School program they are proving students with years of instruction and exposure to music before reaching high school.
Read MoreWe take very seriously our role as a resource for students and parents navigating the world of strings. One thing we do pretty frequently is actually talk people out of purchasing an instrument. Why? Because it just doesn't make sense at that moment in time. We tell our customers there are 5 signs they are ready to make a purchase and work through this list with them....
Read MoreKaren currently teaches 6-12 Orchestra in Skaneateles, NY, at Skaneateles Central Schools. Her previous teaching positions have included serving as adjunct faculty at Syracuse University, teaching String Methods as well as applied violin and viola. She graduated from Syracuse University with a Masters Degree in Violin Performance, K-12 Music Ed. certification and has completed additional studies at Aspen, Berklee School of Music in Boston, and Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute.
Read MorePam has been teaching in the Berkley School District since 1997; and this year is her 28th year of teaching. She started in the Utica Community Schools in 1993 after finishing her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University (Go Broncos) and then attended the University of Michigan for graduate school to study string pedagogy under Professor Robert Culver. She then taught for one year in the Battle Creek Public Schools before finding her home in Berkley – a suburb of Detroit.
Read MoreAngela Santangelo is the Orchestra Director for grades 7-12 in the Sycamore School District, Cincinnati, OH; having previously taught in the Princeton City School District, with her first year in the Winton Woods School District. A transplant to the area, Santangelo first visited Paul Bartel and The Baroque Violin Shop as an undergraduate violist. Dr. Santangelo earned her degrees at The University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music during which time she met her husband, a local Cincinnati musician who introduced her to Skyline Chili; prior to which she had managed to live in Cincy for three years before succumbing to the local delicacy.
Read MoreWith a new school year approaching many students will be taking orchestra for the first time. We want to make sure these students start off on the right note and get an instrument that will allow them to learn properly. We will break down the three important factors for selecting a string instrument and let you know what is hands-down the best violin (viola, cello, or bass) for a beginner.
Read MoreMarissa Keener joined the Arts+ violin faculty in 2014 and became the Suzuki Coordinator for Arts+ in 2017. She is registered for Every Child Can! and Violin Books 1-10 with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and completed her training with Joanne Bath, Edward Kreitman, and Liz Arbus. In addition to private lesson teaching, Marissa has taught at several public school Suzuki outreach programs in Greenville, Bath, and Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Read MoreMrs. Donahoe currently teaches in New Albany, Ohio and directs a string program that serves about 400 students. She earned her music degree at The Ohio State University, but before that, she actually served in the United States Air Force! Although the Air Force was a fantastic opportunity, she knew music was her true calling and is thrilled to be working with students in the classroom every day.
Read MoreDoug is an orchestra director at both Centerville High School and Watts Middle School, and he is the founder of the Alternative Strings program, which began over 23 years ago, and encourages hundreds of students to "think outside the Bach" (as their shirts once said) -- to expand their horizons past the classical music taught in school.
Read MoreSandy Vargo is a member of the strings staff, teaching grades 5-7 at three separate schools, with the Farmington Public School system in Farmington, MI.
Read MoreCynthia Wright is currently the Orchestra Director at Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School in Maryville, TN. Cynthia earned both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in String Education from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Read MoreStephanie is the Director of Orchestras for the Mason City Schools where she currently teaches High School Orchestra and serves as the 7-12 Performing Arts Chair. Stephanie was hired to start the Mason Orchestra program in 2002 with eighty 6th grade students and it has since grown to over 1,100 students in 6-12 grades. Read on to learn more about Stephanie and her program.
Read MoreKatie Donovan received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Education with a concentration in strings from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. She currently teaches 2nd-6th grade strings and orchestra for the New Hartford Central School District in New Hartford, NY, where she has been teaching since 2012 and has earned the title of Master Teacher.
Read MoreA native of Cincinnati, Shawn attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH for both his Bachelor and Masters degrees. He currently teaches orchestra grades 5-12 at Bowling Green City Schools, where he has been teaching since 1997.
Read MoreSteven Fernández teaches 5th-8th grade orchestra for Brighton Area Schools in Brighton, Michigan. He was the first teacher hired for this new program, which is adding a grade level each year. His first year of teaching was done for Waverly Community Schools in Lansing, MI. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Western Michigan University, and will begin the Summer Master of Music Education program next week at the University of Michigan. Read on to learn more about Steven.
Read MoreEric Marta teaches 6th-12th grade orchestra in the Marquette Area Public Schools in the upper peninsula of Michigan. He graduated in 2012 from Northern Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Before teaching at Marquette Area Public Schools, Mr. Marta served as a K-12 general music teacher at North Star Academy where he started after school music programs including strings, ukulele, percussion, garage band, and guitar. Mr. Marta currently serves on the Superior String Alliance Board of Directors and is also the Michigan String Teacher Association's Northern Initiatives representative. Mr. Marta also oversees the UP Chamber Music Festival with the help of Baroque Violin Shop as a vendor. We have enjoyed getting to know Eric and think you’ll enjoy his Q&A.
Read MoreA common question that we get at the shop is: “My child is interested in learning to play the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Should I rent one or just go ahead and buy?” It’s a good question and it follows the thinking, “my son or daughter seems really interested and I don’t want to throw money away by renting if they’re serious about it.” This is an understandable thought process, but I’d like to provide some clarity on why renting is often the best route to take when beginning the journey of playing a stringed instrument.
Read MoreThis month we’re featuring Kim Driscoll, an outstanding teacher from Mentor, OH. Kim currently teaches orchestra for grades 5-7 at Mentor Public Schools. Kim grew up in Mentor and ended up taking over for the teacher who started her on the violin when she retired. Kim attended Miami University for Music Education and completed her masters degree at Ohio State University with Dr. Gillespie. Before her current teaching position, she taught in Middletown, OH, which is where she discovered BVS! We are so lucky to work with such awesome teachers and we love learning more about them. If you want to read more about Kim, keep reading below!
Read MoreWe have an impressive lineup for our 2019 Teacher Spotlights. To start us off, we are recognizing JulieAnn Bernard from Centerville City Schools. JulieAnn graduated from Miami University in 1993 with a degree in Music Education. At Miami University she held the Patricia Jellinek-Howell Award, which is a 4-year full tuition scholarship. Additionally, she attended the Interlochen and Brevard Music Festivals on performance scholarships. JulieAnn received her Masters Degree in Education with an emphasis on instrumental conducting from the University of Dayton. And she is the former adjunct professor of Upper String Pedagogy at the University of Dayton. Her orchestras have performed multiple times at the ASTA National Orchestra Festival and OMEA Professional Development Conference. JulieAnn has appeared as a guest conductor, clinician, and lecturer throughout Ohio and Indiana. Along with all of that, she has performed throughout the United States and Europe as a violinist and vocalist both classically as well as in various rock bands. JulieAnn has an impressive background, is an outstanding educator, and we are so grateful we get to work with her! To learn more about JulieAnn continue reading.
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