She/Her/Hers

Karen Zethmayr joined MSAC in 2004, teaching Suzuki violin, viola, and occasional fiddle classes. She studied at Lawrence College as a violin major and at the American Conservatory of Music (Chicago), further studying with Scott Willits. She studied privately with Giorgio Silzer in Berlin and the Eastman School of Music, a summer course in Suzuki pedagogy, followed by 3 years teaching Suzuki violin, mentored by Anastasia Jempelis, in Eastman's preparatory department. Karen attended the National String Workshop in Madison for four seasons, studying violin, viola, cello, and bass. 

Karen is a member of the Suzuki Association of Wisconsin, participating in Biennial Winter Retreats as a teacher, volunteer, and observer. She is a past member of the Independent String Teachers' Association of Madison, participating in teacher accompaniment orchestra for their biennial student concert. She has played in the pit orchestra as a violinist and violist in Madison Savoyards, UW Opera, and Milwaukee community theater productions. 

Karen also has an associate's degree in commercial art from MATC. In addition to spending time with her grandkids and making music, her favorite activities are drawing and writing stories.

Hallmarks of the Suzuki teaching method: 

Parent-Child-Teacher: Many students come to lessons with a caregiver who takes part in a hands-on intro, gradually gaining ways to guide the child's practice at home.

Student & parent networking: When schedules allow, students may arrive 5 minutes early and/or stay an additional 5 minutes, to learn from, play technique-related games with, encourage, and accompany each other.

Recordings are integral to home practice: There are many recordings available to download for each volume of the "Suzuki Violin School" for daily exposure.