About

Longer bio:

My work has two threads: violin and Alexander Technique. I began studying violin at age seven. I had a well-rounded childhood and was a strong in many academic subjects. When I was 16, I fell in love with music and found myself practicing many hours a day, obsessed with figuring out violin technique and learning to perform with confidence. I earned a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Western Washington University. During college, I began teaching violin lessons and was instantly hooked! I also learned to climb with the Bellingham Mountaineers and volunteered for several years as a climbing instructor, a totally different type of teaching where I worked with adults from all walks of life.

My interest in the process of teaching and learning led me to graduate school at the University of Washington, where I completed a Masters in Educational Psychology. At first, I thought I would use that degree to pivot to a non-music profession. Music ended up being the most interesting educational setting for me: the deep relationship between teacher and student, precision necessary to play the violin well, and every child’s unique learning style made for an irresistible combination. I conducted an in-depth research study about student-teacher interaction. I filmed myself teaching three young violin students over three years and analyzed 100+ lesson videos. I learned to identify patterns, become more observant, and tailor instruction to each child’s unique personality and level of development. This experience continues to inform my teaching today, and I regularly study child development, psychology, and parenting theory.

After graduate school, I opened a thriving private studio in NE Seattle, where students regularly stayed with me for 7-10 years. I continued to train with some of the best violin pedagogues around I did Suzuki teacher training for Books 1-10, the majority of which I took with Cathy Lee, who has an incredible knowledge of the bow arm and a gift for communicating big ideas simply. I studied traditional pedagogy with Margaret Pressley and attended Mimi Zweig’s summer pedagogy workshop at Indiana University and the Starling-DeLay Symposium at Juilliard. I’ve been a guest teacher and clinician at various workshops, competitions, institutes, and schools. I am very active in my professional community: I am a teaching member of Alexander Technique International, served as president for the Suzuki Association of Washington State (SAWS), and worked for for the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival Association for several years.

Freedom of movement and release of tension were always a priority for me, but became even more important after I experienced some overuse injury challenges. I began studying the Alexander Technique in 2013 and found it to be life-changing. It is the most practical tool I’ve ever encountered and it has become like the yeast that leavens my teaching: it makes everything work together! I completed the long process of becoming a certified Alexander Technique teacher in 2019. I teach the Alexander Technique to adults from all walks of life and integrate it into my violin teaching.

In 2021, I closed my Seattle studio and my family and I relocated to my hometown, Bellingham, WA, fulfilling the dream of being close to family, friends, and nature. I took a sabbatical to care for my two young children and enjoy our new life chapter. In 2023, I opened my Bellingham studio, a smaller Suzuki teaching practice focused on giving high-quality education to about 12 school aged children. I also teach the Alexander Technique to adults from all walks of life. Interested in working together? I’d love to connect. Contact me at lisatonerviolin [at] gmail.com.