About Me

My name is Christina and I’m a violist & banjo player based in Durham. A native of Miami, FL, I grew up with a classical pianist mom and have spent most of my life surrounded by music. I enjoy playing many genres, from classical to folk. I have been playing viola for over ten years and currently play with the Durham Medical Orchestra. I also enjoy attending jam sessions and playing with local bands in the area, including the indie-folk band Honey Magpie, where I played violin, viola, banjo, and vocals. When I’m not playing or teaching, I love to paint and go on hikes with my husband and our dog, Grogu. I’m also an avid fan of Star Wars and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

My Teaching Experience and Style

My number one goal for my students is for them to have fun and to discover their own love and joy for music in a safe, creative, and encouraging environment. I consider my teaching style to be flexible and adaptable; no two students are alike and I take great care and time in creating lesson plans and musical journeys that are tailored to the student, their age and ability, their background, and their musical interests!

I am trained in the Suzuki method and this is what I implement for students beginning violin or viola at a very young age. This is to ensure a a strong understanding of fundamentals, proper technique, and most importantly, good posture. Once the student has developed a strong foundation in these areas, we can expand to repertoire and techniques outside of the Suzuki method if the student wishes to! This can be anything from exploring fiddle and bluegrass music or learning how to play their favorite song from Star Wars or Lord of the Rings :) I strongly encourage my students to have an open mind to all genres of music, from classical to folk, rock, pop and beyond.