Having been trained in Every Child Can -- the Suzuki beginners book -- and having studied with some of the best viola professors in the world, Erica brings a deep insight into the practice of playing the viola. While at Northwestern University, she studied the beginners Suzuki method with Gilda Barston, the Artistic Director of the Chicago Suzuki Institute. Using the Suzuki repertoire and some chosen technical books, Erica has developed her own technique of teaching over the past 5 years. She has worked with students ranging from young beginners, to advanced high-school students in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas.

Having played the viola for 20 + years, Erica has a profound knowledge of what it takes to play the viola and violin. Teaching beginning violin and beginning to advanced viola, Erica feels that every child has the ability to learn to make beautiful music on their instrument, with practice and with the help of a parent. For beginning students of a young age, she feels strongly that the involvement of a parent during lesson time and practice time is essential. The parent needs to be present for a young person to insure that the child develops correct technique. Beyond the technical, however, Erica feels that having a parent present guarantees that the child feels that making music is a special time; the habit of practicing becomes time set aside to share with the parent as a chance to learn and play music one-on-one together.