Ms. Jennifer Taylor

At the age of seven, I started playing the violin, taking lessons for my first two years from one of the pioneer Suzuki teachers in America, Lorraine Fink.  Later, I studied with wonderful non-Suzuki teachers, mainly Grace Boeringer in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and, still later, with Richard Luby at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where in 1986 I received my bachelor of music degree in violin performance.  I furthered my Suzuki education by studying with Joanne Bath at UNC-Greenville and others. I have completed Suzuki violin teacher training for volumes one through eight, and completed other enrichment courses including a teacher training class led by Mimi Zweig at University of Indiana in summer of 2016.

My experience in teaching, spanning over thirty years, began in high school as a tutor.  After completing my degree in violin performance from UNC, I taught violin privately, as well as part-time in public schools and in a community music school for families with lower incomes.   In 1991 I returned to UNC for graduate study in city and regional planning, and after receiving a master’s degree, I worked for non-profit housing organizations and state government for five years.  Since 1996, I’ve been teaching violin students at our home in Durham, and I currently have about 30 private students.  For a couple years, I taught at Kidnzotes, a local El Sistema program, and currently I teach early morning group classes at a local elementary school.

My two grown daughters both play violin, and my husband is learning to play the classical guitar, so my house is often filled with music.  My mom and dad play guitar and fiddle, and I also appreciate old time fiddle music.   I enjoy playing in string quartets, occasionally for weddings, and I continue to study violin, including taking some lessons in blues and jazz.   I also like to work out at the gym (zumba classes are my favorite!), hike, travel, contra or square dance, read, watch movies—especially documentary films, try new foods, and cook.