Carrie Jackson, BM; MM
When I was in seventh grade a group of area music teachers gave an assembly at my school. One of the teachers demonstrated the viola and made it make a funny sound, and after hearing it I was hooked. I went home and asked for music lessons, and have been playing ever since.
After graduation I attended the North Carolina School of the Arts studying viola performance. It was one of the best experiences of my life to be surrounded by so many others who had so much passion for the arts. After graduation I took a year off from playing, thinking I was burned out and wondering what life would be like if I wasn't required to practice every day. I quickly found out how much music meant in my life. Going months without playing viola was a horrible experience - I felt depressed, had no motivation, and got very little of any worth accomplished. I made the decision to get back into music and attended the University of Georgia for graduate school. It was there that I discovered how much I loved teaching others how to play. I began taking courses in the Suzuki method, and was very impressed with the loving, step by step approach it takes to learning an instrument. I have always thought excellence and technique are very important in music, but not as important as the spirit behind the playing - this is also a part of Suzuki teaching. I gained my certification through book 3, moved back home to North Carolina, and was lucky enough to find a wonderful space like the Duplin Music Academy to teach in.Now my studio is growing here in Rose Hill, and the possibilities are endless. What a wonderful gift it is to be able to introduce others to music, something that is so essential to my own well being!
