I don’t know if I was necessarily old enough to make the decision to learn how to play violin, but apparently I wanted to learn after I saw my older cousin play.

I was three years old.

The Suzuki method starts them out young and I was no exception. If I knew my ABC’s, then I could start, my teacher told my mom. Thus, the long and arduous journey began. It wasn’t easy, let me assure you. However, my parents, especially my mom, kept me on the straight and narrow…even if they had to bribe me to practice. (True story.)

My mom’s friends joked that I could play the violin but couldn’t tie my shoelaces. This was actually fact. I didn’t learn how to properly tie my shoes until I was in 2nd grade. Hah!

But, I digress.

Around my junior high school years, I began to feel as disconnect between music and me. I haven’t been able to fully place my finger on why or how. I just know many of us were beginning to feel bored with the violin. Enter in the musical group: Culmination. The group that saved my love for music. Our violin instructor created this group especially for our age group and her higher skilled students. We were able to learn so many different genres of music, instead of just classical. (Don’t get me wrong. I’m a firm believer that classical music is the basis of any music career. I don’t believe in teaching any other genre when a student is beginning. However! I do believe in exploring other genres and being multi-faceted. It keeps things interesting.) Not only did we get to perform other genres of music, but we also added choreography to some of the pieces. Yes, that might seem weird, but it was so much fun! More than that, it made music come alive again. Weirdly enough, classical music became more exciting later as well.

As the years have progressed, I’ve been privileged to be part of so many different amazing groups in different venues, not just through violin, but also choir and orchestra.

Eventually, I received a Bachelor’s of Science in Music and since then have still been involved in music even though my career path took me to public health. Most notably, I was able to teach at the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory in Nepal while I was working with ADRA Nepal. It was an incredibly challenging, but rewarding experience, and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to teach violin there.

Currently, back at home, I am teaching privately and am involved with a community orchestra!