Piano, Suzuki Piano
Education
Karen received her B.M. in Piano Performance, M.M. in Music History, and Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Missouri. She also attended Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and Westminster Choir College Summer Choral Institutes. Karen is a certified Suzuki Teacher in Training for the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Performance and Teaching Experience
Karen has performed at numerous in-school concerts, chamber music recitals, and accompanied vocal and instrumental performers on piano and organ. After leaving full-time church music positions, she now substitutes at various churches in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
She has been on the piano faculty at the University of Missouri, Lincoln University, and maintained a private piano studio while in Jefferson City, MO. She has been on the faculty of many summer Suzuki Institutes throughout the U.S. where she teaches students and teachers.
At Levine
Karen has been on the Levine faculty since the fall of 1997 teaching Suzuki piano. She has trained several of the current Levine Suzuki piano faculty and teaches the “Every Child Can” Suzuki philosophy course for teachers and parents. She also accompanies the Suzuki string play-ins.
Her favorite thing about Levine is its emphasis on community, excellence, and the wonderful opportunity to work with a diverse population of teachers, students and parents in a culturally-rich environment.
Teaching Philosophy and Approach
“I hold fast to the philosophy that every student has ability to play beautiful music and it is the joy and responsibility of teacher and parent to create an environment to nurture that potential to its fullest. Through music, we are privileged to help our students grow into amazing individuals who will have a life-long love of and appreciation for music.”
Personal
When not teaching, performing and accompanying, Karen enjoys spending her time swimming and visiting the families of her three grown children and 10 grandchildren.