Green Mountain Suzuki Institute July 9

2011 Piano Teachers

Melanie Brsan has a BM in Piano Performance from Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she studied under Dr. James Breckenridge. She studied with Linda Poquette and has coached with teachers including Dr. Bruce Berr, Melody Lord, and Dr. Ray Landers. Ms. Brsan maintains a full piano studio in Shorewood, IL and continues her post-graduate education by attending pedagogy conferences and workshops, including extensive training with Marilyn Taggart. In 2003, she was chosen as a finalist for the MTNA Studio Fellowship Award for best new teacher in the US. Her students participate in several performances and competitions each year; many have received awards and scholarships. Melanie accompanies instrumentalists, vocalists, and opera singers and performs solo concerts throughout the Chicago area. Past engagements have included DuPage Opera Theatre and Ballet Chicago. Melanie is currently active in her local community as an accompanist/pianist for choirs and churches, including full-time accompanist and small group director at Joliet West High School as well as principle accompanist for the Naperville Men’s Glee Club. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in the ‘city’ -- Chicago -- and traveling.

Katie Hooper maintains an active Suzuki studio in Saratoga Springs, NY. In addition to regular studio recitals, all of her students participate in a chamber festival and a Capital District Contemporary Music Recital every year. She is also the high school choral music director at The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs. She holds a BM from Ohio Wesleyan University. She has traveled extensively throughout the world and enjoys the outdoors.

Cynthia Huard teaches at Middlebury College as well as running a Suzuki studio. She is the Artistic Director of the Rochester Chamber Music Society. Devoted to chamber music and collaborative music making, she has performed with the Lark Quartet, chamber players of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, and the National Symphony, among others, and has met and played for "Mr. Rogers."

Phyllis Kraunz maintains an active Suzuki studio in Dover, NH, where she teaches students of all ages. She accompanies a children's chorus, has been active in the SAA for 25 years and holds a BM from the University of Michigan. In her spare time she loves to ski, run and play tennis.

Joan Krzywicki has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Indiana University where she also carried a second major in Piano Performance. She also holds a Master of Music degree from Youngstown State University. She has been a Suzuki piano teacher since 1981 and became an official SAA Teacher Trainer in 1993. In addition to a home studio, she does teacher training classes at Temple University. Joan has had the opportunity to visit Matsumoto, Japan, and observe both Dr. Suzuki and Dr. Kataoka teach at the Talent Education Institute. She is the Coordinator for Piano for the 2010 International Conference of the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Renee Robbins maintains an active studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she teaches piano students of all ages, trains other Suzuki teachers, and plays and performs chamber music. Her teaching at Suzuki workshops around this country, in Bermuda, and in Israel has included private lessons, chamber music coaching and teacher training.

Marilyn Taggart began piano study before the age of five with her pianist mother and later attended Oberlin, Converse, and Catholic University (M.Mus.), becoming a Suzuki piano teacher in 1978. In addition to giving workshops and Institute teaching, Mrs. Taggart is a contributor to the book Teaching Suzuki Piano: Ten Teachers' Viewpoints. Her students have won numerous awards and performed at both SAA and International Suzuki conventions.

Violin/Viola Teachers

Cello Teachers

Flute Teachers

Electives Teachers and Administrative Staff