Susie Smith

I am an enthusiastic and patient teacher with over a decade of experience teaching violin to students of all ages!

I received my Bachelor's degree in Music Performance from DePauw University, where I was concertmaster of the DePauw Symphony Orchestra, and my Master's degree in Music Performance from DePaul University. I've performed with ensembles such as Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Iowa, Palos Heights Symphony, and 5th Wave Collective, and at festivals including Lollapalooza and Ravinia. 

Testimonials: 

“Susie perfectly tailors her lessons to my skill set and interests. She is always patient and supportive of my progress while simultaneously guiding me forward in my studies. I am a law student, so as you can imagine, timing issues can come up. Susie is always accommodating and lovely about working with my schedule. I look forward to her lessons every single week. I make no exaggeration when I say Susie is the absolute best piano teacher in every way.

"Susie is such a kind hearted and wonderful teacher.  She is born to be a musician and teacher at the same time. As (my son) being a kindergartner, he felt a bit shy to interact with her one on one during the Zoom private class at the beginning but he got warmed up very quickly and doing so well because she always make him feel comfortable and confident around her."

My teaching philosophy is based on:

• A “Suzuki-plus” approach. The Suzuki method is the main influence in my teaching (I was a Suzuki student myself!), and forms the basis of my violin curriculum. However, I also like to introduce other genres, whether it’s making pop arrangements of the newest Billie Eilish song through the Acappella app, or adding a jazz or fiddle tune. I am always looking for music that motivates and excites my students! 

• Focus on fundamentals. I work hard to emphasize healthy playing technique. I am very focused on developing a relaxed and balanced position from the start, allowing for a much more enjoyable learning process with fewer corrections and frustrations along the way.