Jennifer's Background

At the age of seven, I started playing the violin, taking lessons for my first two years from one of the pioneer Suzuki teachers in America, Lorraine Fink.  Later, I studied with wonderful non-Suzuki teachers, mainly Grace Boeringer in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and, still later, with Richard Luby at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where in 1986 I received my bachelor of music degree in violin performance.  I continue my education every year through conferences, workshops, and classes with teachers such as Joanne Bath at UNC-Greenville, Edward Kreitman, Mimi Zweig, and Jerry Fischbach on the Paul Rolland method.  I completed Suzuki violin teacher training for volumes one through eight.

My experience in teaching, spanning over thirty years, began in high school as a tutor.  After completing my degree in violin performance from UNC, I taught violin privately, as well as part-time in public schools and in a community music school for families with lower incomes.   In 1991 I returned to UNC for graduate study in city and regional planning, and after receiving a master's degree, I worked for non-profit housing organizations and state government for five years.  Since 1996, I've been teaching violin students at our home in Durham, and I currently have about 25 private students.  

My two daughters (ages 22 and 26) both play violin, and my husband is learning to play the classical guitar, so my house is often filled with music.  My mom and dad play guitar and fiddle, and I also appreciate old time fiddle music.   I enjoy playing in string quartets, occasionally for weddings, and I continue to study violin, including jazz and blues.   I also like to cycle, work out at the gym (zumba classes are my favorite!), hike, travel, contra or square dance, read, watch movies--especially documentary films, try new foods, and cook.