V i o l i n   V e n t u r e s !

Hello there!  My name is Mrs. Carol Lustig.  I've played violin since I was in 4th grade (A VERY LONG TIME AGO!) and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  I've always enjoyed it and have treated it as a special avocation,playing in various orchestras (mentoring in some) throughout many years of my life.  I am currently part of two local fiddle groups. I've studied under several different teachers over the course of many years.  My teacher training has come from The String Academy of Wisconsin, the Bornoff Approach, Suzuki Institute, and Kaleidoscope Teacher Training.  I am a member of the American String Teachers' Association andthe Suzuki Association of the Americas.  I subscribe to Mimi Zweig's String Pedagogy.  I've also been involved with the Billings Youth Orchestra and Chorale for many years. In addition to teaching privately, I also taught General Music at Blue Creek Elementary School.

Violin instruction is geared individually, based on the needs, abilities, and goals of each student.  Patience and practice are both vital components of learning this challenging instrument.  The lesson format consists of isolated skill work combined with several different repertoire:  Suzuki, Bornoff, folk songs, Mark O'Connor, Kaleidoscope, contemporary and Fiddle, as well as a variety of just fun songs.  Each student is given a spiral notebook in which I write down what we've done during the lesson and which students are expected to refer to during their practice sessions at home. Two recitals are performed during the course of the school year, and students are expected to participate.

My husband and I moved to Billings over 40 years ago and we've raised two daughters and two sons.  I am the proud grandma of 13, ranging in age from 10-26.  I was a public school teacher (mostly 6th grade) for 31 years and semi-retired in June, 2015.  I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I truly believe music enhances learning of all kinds.  Working with learners of all ages and stages has been an amazingly wonderful part of my life, and I can be helpful to you!