Ms. Shannon Ward
A student of the violin since 1985 and the piano since 1990, Ms. Shannon began playing the violin with seasoned professionals at the age of 14 and continues that endeavor to date. She has performed on stages in the U.S. and in Europe sharing the stage with well-known musicians such as Rick Springfield, Billy Currington, Kellie Pickler, Kacey Musgraves, Milo Deering, and the band Kansas, just to name a few. Currently, she freelances and is frequently hired to play special occasions with members of Dallas Live Orchestra, Dallas String Quartet, Philadelphia String Quartet, Anthony Plant Music, Fort Worth Civic Orchestra, and alongside her musical mentor Mr. Milo Deering. She has taught private music lessons to children in Oklahoma and North Texas for 18 years.
Click here to read Shannon's Teaching Background
Click here to read Shannon's Performance Background
ms. Shannon's Personal Teaching Philosophy
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki wrote “Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed. The potential of every child is unlimited.”
I believe that if we can learn our mother tongue, we can also learn the language of music! The keys to learning a language are similar to the keys for musical success:
Regular exposure to the sounds of different musical instruments
A strong support system
An empathetic and patient teacher
A personal desire to learn
I teach best through personal connection. Utilizing a “mentorship” model, I strive to nurture the whole child through the natural ups and downs of learning. My personal experience and many studies show that the skills and character built through learning an instrument are myriad and benefit the student just as much as reading, writing and arithmetic.
The lifelong effects range from the obvious to the extraordinary:
Fine motor skills
Attention to detail
Greater focus and listening skills
Critical thinking and self-analysis
Better performance on tests
Appreciation of the fine arts
Ability to perform under pressure
Heightened sensitivity to the emotional needs of themselves and others
Critical process of goal setting and reaching goals through commitment and dedication
Enhanced memory
Higher levels of executive function
Improved skills in mathematics
As Dr. Suzuki said, “Perhaps it is music that will save the world.”