I have two cellos — Priscilla + Nigel
Around the age of 10 I discovered the cello through my middle school orchestra program. Originally I had signed up for double bass, but my orchestra director — a cellist herself — insisted I play cello. Her interest in me helped foster a desire to try something new and musical, and I quickly took an interest in such an elegant, refined art form.
I played the cello all the way through middle and high school, and welcomed opportunities in performing with groups outside of my school system, such as the New Conservatory of Dallas and the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. Through my orchestra program I was able to learn about chamber music, solo performing, and the gigging world of a professional musician.
It was towards the beginning of my senior year when I decided to study music education — I was most inspired by my own orchestra director in high school and the opportunities she gave me to work with the freshman orchestra.
From high school I went on to the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where I studied cello with Emilio Colon. Through the music education department, I studied with Dr. Brenda Brenner, as well as Dr. Frank Diaz, in order to steer my studies towards string pedagogy. My efforts were not only focused in learning how to teach in the public school classroom, but to study string playing — including my own — in order to develop teaching strategies and engage more with my craft. In addition to field teaching throughout my undergraduate career, I taught private lessons at Melody Music Shop, Bloomington’s premier music store.
In the spring of 2018, I spent four months at North Central High School in Indianapolis, IN teaching high school orchestra, while also spending some time at Eastwood Elementary School studying and helping with their strings program. This placement helped modify my classroom management techniques, let me explore repertoire, and sharpened my abilities to deal with all types of learners.
Following my time at Indiana, I taught privately at Harmonic Music Studios in Washington, DC. At this point I was embracing professional musician life, while also testing for my teaching license. I had the privilege of teaching violin, viola, cello, and piano students of all ages and abilities, and was able to rekindle my love for private teaching.
In June of 2019, I was hired at Fairfax County Public Schools as an itinerant string teacher, and I have been employed with them since. As an traveling school teacher, I have the unique opportunity to teach students in differing communities, and expand my teaching abilities in multiple environments.