Alison Clark |
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| Suzuki Violin |
| Education |
| Alison earned a Diploma in Violin Performance from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She also studied psychology and music at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. She holds a BA in psychology from Oberlin. Her violin teachers andchamber music coaches include Valerie Vilker-Kuchment, Blanche Moyse, Stanley Ritchie, Eda Mazo-Shlyam, Daniel Stepner and Andor Toth.
For Suzuki teacher training she has worked with Cathryn Lee and Mihoko Hirata. She had a most memorable summer in Japan joining a teacher training class with the founder of the method, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. |
| Performing and Teaching Experience |
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In addition to her work at CSMA, Alison teaches privately at the Allegro Violin Studio, which she founded. She previously taught group and private lessons at the Yew Chung International School in Mountain View. At an earlier time she taught violin privately in Cambridge, MA. She has performed in the Oberlin Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, the Longy Chamber Orchestra, the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra and at the Brattleboro Music Festival. |
| At CSMA |
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Alison joined CSMA in 2006 and teaches Suzuki violin. |
| Teaching Philosophy and Approach |
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“I believe that through the study of music the whole child can blossom. A child can become a sensitive, kind and strong individual. Along the lines of Suzuki philosophy he or she learns patience, mastery, self-awareness and the invaluable skill of listening. My violin teaching focus is on young beginners and their parents, who become closer to their children through this challenging joint project. It is a joy to make even a small impact on the lives of the families I work with through this wondrous process.” |
| Personal |
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Alison lived in Japan for seven years. She worked in US-Japan relations as foreign affairs manager at the Kunitachi College of Music and then in PR at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. Her most challenging musical endeavor at that time was conducting rehearsals in Japanese for the company-wide Socio-Tech String Orchestra. She was their first conductor. For four years Alison served on the Board of Directors of Theatre of Yugen in San Francisco. In Sunnyvale she has been a volunteer music teacher through Music for Minors and parent coordinator of after-school music programs. Her current hobbies include Tai Chi, square dancing and gardening. Alison has two children who both play instruments. Raising them has made her a compassionate parent. |
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