Audrey Butler
Violinist / Pianist / Teacher 

My passion for teaching began as a young child. One of my favorite games was playing school, and I loved when my little brothers would agree to be students in my play schoolroom. Ever since, I have had a strong desire to be a part of the lives of real students, and to teach and share with others what I have learned and am learning. This dream has taken me to more places than I could have imagined, and one of the most fulfilling has become teaching music lessons. 

 

I have studied intensely with a wide variety of teachers, mentors, and professors, and I have learned that being immersed in the world of music is vital for being a good teacher. Musicians who only teach and do not cross train by performing on their instruments regularly, attending concerts and festivals, being involved in the greater music community, and continuing learning themselves simply do not have as much to offer to their students. I pursue all of these avenues actively, not only for my own benefit, but also for that of my students. 

 

The musicians I have worked with and studied with have all had different approaches and different emphases. Studying with a variety of musicians has given me a wide range of methods and frameworks to draw from, and I have made a conscious effort to analyze their approaches and determine which ones work well. As a teacher, I take my responsibility seriously to give each student my best. I tailor my teaching style to each individual student, and while I have high standards for excellence with all of my students, the way I strive to meet these standards is flexible and versatile. I encourage students and parents to come to me with their individual visions, and I create and implement the plan that will best help them to achieve these visions.

 

I organize fall and spring student recitals every year, and I strongly encourage all of my students to participate – it is an important aspect of musicianship, and of course sharing music is one of the primary reasons we do what we do. Performing regularly cultivates a level of comfort on the stage, and it also gives students a goal to work towards. It can often take the drudgery out of practice because a performance is so exciting.