Barbara Collins

I am a professional improvising violinist, trained in classical violin at Northwestern University. I also am well-acquainted with a variety of fiddle styles. This year I will also help students who need tutoring to become a stronger participant in school orchestra. I have been teaching in the Olympia area since 1984 and now operate out of a spacious private studio in rural NE Olympia in which I offer private lessons on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Details will be addressed when you call (360) 459-4625. Not the number given on the side margin. We've now launched our brand new website: http://www.ramseyandcollins.net

SPECIALIZATION IN TEACHING

Prime goals are in 1.)Providing the guidance to help make music an enjoyable skill for life with or without a structured ensemble. 2.)Helping students become versatile and confident in the learning process via improved technique and musical expression. 3.) Teaching the student to work with field recordings and to communicate effectively in jam sessions and ensembles.

CUSTOM TRANSCRIPTIONS & TAB. As a serious musician, I have always heavily studied and transcribed both field recordings and those from CDs. Aside from technically learning to play, I can also help you with your choice of material in addition to my own lesson plans for you. I am adept an analyzing recordings and have the skills necessary to be able to play the material back to you. Especially great for int/adv "violinists" who solely have classical training as well as established fiddlers. I can also provide accompaniment on guitar. Also see our "Music in the Mail" program at our website: www.ramseyandcollins.net

TEACHING TEACHERS:
IMPROVISATION / JAM SKILLS
There has never been more of a demand for teachers who can competently play old-time, Celtic, bluegrass, blues, western-swing, swing, bossa-nova, gypsy-jazz and popular standards in an authentic, spontaneous jam setting. Many violin/fiddle players memorize a repertoire of tunes. Others play for dances; others participate in chamber or symphony orchestras. I hope to teach local violin teachers who presently play well, but want to get to the next skill level in branching out into the world of improvisation. (This may be applied to various genres.) Some people come to learn breaks and solos for standard repertoire often played at bluegrass festivals or for the reason to simply feel more comfortable in an authentic 'jam' setting when improvising. Several of my advanced students have been music teachers in the area who wanted to delve into improvisational styles. Some students' goals are centered around church activities and come for guidance as they have a specific need to learn to play along freely in various music ensembles for church services and worship gatherings. Others have small groups of friends with whom they aspire to playing music. I can give any student some extremely effective tools to practice in order to become more adept at improvisation provided that they put the time into practicing certain scales, arpeggios and patterns as well as becoming familiar with chord progressions.

INTONATION, RHYTHM, and TONE IS OF THE ESSENCE:
I have worked hard to develop unusual tone production and expression and have recorded on various studio projects. I try to do my utmost to inspire my students to become more artistic musically and can impart ideas which often help enhance these aspects of playing for anyone willing to risk taking the plunge into unknown territory! It's a thrill to work with people who care to evolve into participating, on their own volition, in an active musical environment.

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BACKGROUND:

FORMAL TRAINING: Northwestern University School of Music

INSTRUCTOR: The Wintergrass Academy, Bluegrass at the Beach, British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop (8 years), The Hills Health Ranch (100 Mile House Bluegrass Workshop), The National Old Time Fiddle Contest, Weiser Idaho (Stickerville Workshops in the Snake River Heritage Center Museum Auditorium), and many local workshops through the years throughout Washington, Oregon and Hawaii.

BEGAN TEACHING: 1981 -The Suzuki Method and worked as a classical violin tutor; Alternative Violin and Fiddle styles since 1984.

MASTER CLASSES WITH: Shinichi Suzuki in 1980;
In the 90's: Four day workshops with: Byron Berline, Stuart Duncan. Teaching assistant to Laurie Lewis at Bluegrass at the Beach.

Studied with Eduardo Fiorelli at NU; Maxine-Karen Johnson, Honolulu HI.
Had many professional jobs playing 'society gigs' for celebrities and was a strolling violinist in several renowned restaurants and for conventions in Honolulu. Most recent teachers and mentors: Paul Anastasio of Seattle and Joe Baque of Olympia.

After coming to the state of Washington in 1984, I was driven to learn to improvise in several different genres. I am regarded as competent in bluegrass, blues, rock, swing, and sometimes play various ethnic folk styles, from Celtic to eastern European. I am now accepting students over the age of ten.

Most recently I received a grant via the National Endowment for the Arts (i.e., The Big Read - Timberland Libraries in conjunction with the widely promoted reading of Willa Cather's novel, "My Antonia". I was hired to research, select and arrange music for my quartet to perform in series of performances throughout April and May 2007 (of Bohemian and central European music) - culminating with a concert at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

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