|
Current Senior Colorado State Fiddle Champion 2024 Denice has played the violin for 50 years and has taught for nearly 40. Her Suzuki programs have been revered as the best, as she demonstrated great success in the Denver area for 22 years and now 10 years in the Vancouver/Portland area. Predominantly students study with Denice until graduating high school, often 12 years! Her nurturing spirit encourages many students to make music a life long endeavor. Her program is authentic Suzuki with the added bonus of fiddling as a supplement. Denice has developed a parallel learning curriculum that links Suzuki teaching points with Texas Style - Contest Fiddling to insure consistent methodology referred to as SUZIDDLE!. |
Her program focuses on technique, and for young learners, is parent involved. Along with weekly private lessons, Suzuki students participate in regular bi-monthly group classes to build performance and cooperative musical skills. Denice has developed a teaching method for fiddling that is geared toward Suzuki students and their teachers. The method book is in the works!
Along with her early education as a Suzuki student and eventual teacher training of the method,she has competed in and organized fiddle contests for 32 years. Denice has served as judge to many prominent fiddle competitions including the Nationals and recently the Oregon State Championships.
She was founder and president of the Colorado Old Time Fiddlers' Association for 10 years 2003-2013 which established her presence as an exceptional leader and facilitator of fiddling in Colorado. She was responsible for establishing and maintaining the Colorado Fiddle Championships at the National Western Stockshow which is known through out the contest fiddle world as one of the top contests in the Nation. Www.coloradofiddlers.org Denice currently is the Director of The Washington State Fiddle Championships . Previous to her move to the Northwest, Washington hadn't had a state contest for 7 years. She saw the need and stepped up to partner with The Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association and The Clark County Fair to present a top notch competition.
Her dedication to both Suzuki and Fiddling have labeled her a pioneer in connecting the two worlds. Her students have performed all over Colorado in many high profile venue's and media situations. Her fiddle group “Fiddlocity” was featured numerous times in major news papers in Denver including the front page of the Rocky Mountain News and countless TV news features throughout the Denver Metro area. As regular performers at the National Fiddle Championships in Weiser Idaho the group served to inspire 100's of young musicians and was labeled “The Suzuki Machine” due to there exceptional synchronicity. Denice has formed a similar group in the Vancouver area
“Fiddlocity 2.0” is in full swing and is enjoyed by many. After auditioning for the Rockies baseball team her Suzuki group (Denver Suzuki Strings) was invited to perform the National Anthem for thousands of fans. Www.denversuzukistrings.com Likewise her group in the Vancouver/Portland area perform the national anthem at sporting events.
Students who prefer to stick with Suzuki also experience performance opportunities, as Denice has always organized Suzuki group demonstrations and play out's on a regular basis.
Comfortable and experienced with starting students as early as age 3,Denice has also had great success with all ages including beginner – advanced adult students. Lessons can be tailored to the students interests. Learning by ear at first is an exceptional way to develop intonation and memorization skills so Denice encourages this mode for beginner's. Note reading is introduced once technique is solid. Recordings are provided to assist in home practice. Denice believes in utilizing technology and all it's resources to it's fullest extent insuring productive practice “ Knowing how and what to practice is the key to growth and progress!”
Denice has also completed training for Music Together and is interested in providing an introduction to music experience for 3-5 year old's through a pre-music lesson class called “Music By Heart”.
Denice grew up in Pendleton, Oregon and. was excited to return to the Northwest to continue her teaching career! Lessons are organized and structured to insure absolute understanding and communication.
Denice has the ability to play ANYTHING she hears and passes this skill on to her students. Her passion and dedication are evident as you will realize once you enter her studio.
Visit Denice's Youtube channel to hear from students and parents about their experiences in the CSVF program
Now welcoming new students.
Along with her early education as a Suzuki student and eventual teacher training of the method,she has competed in and organized fiddle contests for 32 years. Denice has served as judge to many prominent fiddle competitions including the Nationals and recently the Oregon State Championships.
She was founder and president of the Colorado Old Time Fiddlers' Association for 10 years 2003-2013 which established her presence as an exceptional leader and facilitator of fiddling in Colorado. She was responsible for establishing and maintaining the Colorado Fiddle Championships at the National Western Stockshow which is known through out the contest fiddle world as one of the top contests in the Nation. Www.coloradofiddlers.org Denice currently is the Director of The Washington State Fiddle Championships . Previous to her move to the Northwest, Washington hadn't had a state contest for 7 years. She saw the need and stepped up to partner with The Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association and The Clark County Fair to present a top notch competition.
Her dedication to both Suzuki and Fiddling have labeled her a pioneer in connecting the two worlds. Her students have performed all over Colorado in many high profile venue's and media situations. Her fiddle group “Fiddlocity” was featured numerous times in major news papers in Denver including the front page of the Rocky Mountain News and countless TV news features throughout the Denver Metro area. As regular performers at the National Fiddle Championships in Weiser Idaho the group served to inspire 100's of young musicians and was labeled “The Suzuki Machine” due to there exceptional synchronicity. Denice has formed a similar group in the Vancouver area
“Fiddlocity 2.0” is in full swing and is enjoyed by many. After auditioning for the Rockies baseball team her Suzuki group (Denver Suzuki Strings) was invited to perform the National Anthem for thousands of fans. Www.denversuzukistrings.com Likewise her group in the Vancouver/Portland area perform the national anthem at sporting events.
Students who prefer to stick with Suzuki also experience performance opportunities, as Denice has always organized Suzuki group demonstrations and play out's on a regular basis.
Comfortable and experienced with starting students as early as age 3,Denice has also had great success with all ages including beginner – advanced adult students. Lessons can be tailored to the students interests. Learning by ear at first is an exceptional way to develop intonation and memorization skills so Denice encourages this mode for beginner's. Note reading is introduced once technique is solid. Recordings are provided to assist in home practice. Denice believes in utilizing technology and all it's resources to it's fullest extent insuring productive practice “ Knowing how and what to practice is the key to growth and progress!”
Denice has also completed training for Music Together and is interested in providing an introduction to music experience for 3-5 year old's through a pre-music lesson class called “Music By Heart”.
Denice grew up in Pendleton, Oregon and. was excited to return to the Northwest to continue her teaching career! Lessons are organized and structured to insure absolute understanding and communication.
Denice has the ability to play ANYTHING she hears and passes this skill on to her students. Her passion and dedication are evident as you will realize once you enter her studio.
Visit Denice's Youtube channel to hear from students and parents about their experiences in the CSVF program
Now welcoming new students.
