Meet our teachers
Karen Lauffer, owner
violin, viola
Suzuki Certified & Certified K-12 Music Teacher
B.S. Music Education, M.M. Violin Performance & Pedagogy
(all levels, and ages 3 through adult)
Teaching days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Golden), Friday
Rate: $35 for 30 minute, $50 for 45 minute, $65 for 60 minute
Ms. Lauffer has extensive and diverse experience in both teaching and performing, as well as training in a number of pedigogical styles. She has maintained a private studio of over thirty students a week for the past nineteen years. This means she has taught over 25,000 private lessons! Her students have been in the top levels of the Denver Youth Artist Orchestra, Front Range Youth Symphony, Colorado Youth Symphony, Western States Honor Orchestra, and Colorado All-State Orchestra, and Lamont Summer Music Academy. Some of her students have gone on to study music at the University of Colorado, Boulder; University of Northern Colorado, Regis University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Sunderman Conservatory.
After attending Baltimore School for the Arts High School, Karen received a Music Education degree from York College of Pennsylvania. As a result, she now has a teaching certificate valid in both Pennsylvania and Colorado. While living in York, Karen performed regularly with the York Symphony Orchestra on both violin and viola. As a member of the YSO, Karen accompanied world-renowned guest artists such as Joshua Bell, Nadia Solerno-Sonnenburg, and Christopher Riley. She also performed with the Shippensburg Festival Orchestra and the Harrisburg Choral Society's Orchestra, in addition to being a freelance musician.
Ms. Lauffer continued her training at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she received a Master's Degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy. She studied under Lina Bahn and Dr. Margaret Berg. She also completed her Suzuki Certification under the nationally renowned pedagogue, William Starr (author of "the Suzuki Violinist" among numerous other publications), who studied with and taught along side Dr. Suzuki himself. During her time as a graduate student, Ms. Lauffer also taught general music and group Suzuki classes at the Jarrow Montessori school for two years. She was also on faculty at the University of Colorado at Boulder for two years teaching violin to non-music majors.
Since moving to Colorado, Karen has decided to focus primarily on teaching, but still performs regularly. She has discovered a love for improvisation and folk music. She has performed and recorded with several Celtic, folk, ska, jam, and even hip-hop groups. Her former project, Delilah's Revenge, performed frequently throughout Colorado and Wyoming. Their music can be heard regularly on KRCC's Celtic Show, and TK99's Irish Power Hour. She is also the violist for the Mile High String Quartet and violinist in Colorado Classic Duo, a harp and violin duet. She also plays with a unique performance art group called Tree-o. Tree-o has performed at the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts, and is best known for writing all-original classical/folk tunes and performing them mounted in trees about 15 feet in the air.
She is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and the American String Teachers Association. She recently presented at the Colorado ASTA conference.
When not teaching or making music, Karen enjoys hiking, biking, photography, snowshoeing, playing the harp, and baseball.
violin, viola
Suzuki Certified & Certified K-12 Music Teacher
B.S. Music Education, M.M. Violin Performance & Pedagogy
(all levels, and ages 3 through adult)
Teaching days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Golden), Friday
Rate: $35 for 30 minute, $50 for 45 minute, $65 for 60 minute
Ms. Lauffer has extensive and diverse experience in both teaching and performing, as well as training in a number of pedigogical styles. She has maintained a private studio of over thirty students a week for the past nineteen years. This means she has taught over 25,000 private lessons! Her students have been in the top levels of the Denver Youth Artist Orchestra, Front Range Youth Symphony, Colorado Youth Symphony, Western States Honor Orchestra, and Colorado All-State Orchestra, and Lamont Summer Music Academy. Some of her students have gone on to study music at the University of Colorado, Boulder; University of Northern Colorado, Regis University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Sunderman Conservatory.
After attending Baltimore School for the Arts High School, Karen received a Music Education degree from York College of Pennsylvania. As a result, she now has a teaching certificate valid in both Pennsylvania and Colorado. While living in York, Karen performed regularly with the York Symphony Orchestra on both violin and viola. As a member of the YSO, Karen accompanied world-renowned guest artists such as Joshua Bell, Nadia Solerno-Sonnenburg, and Christopher Riley. She also performed with the Shippensburg Festival Orchestra and the Harrisburg Choral Society's Orchestra, in addition to being a freelance musician.
Ms. Lauffer continued her training at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she received a Master's Degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy. She studied under Lina Bahn and Dr. Margaret Berg. She also completed her Suzuki Certification under the nationally renowned pedagogue, William Starr (author of "the Suzuki Violinist" among numerous other publications), who studied with and taught along side Dr. Suzuki himself. During her time as a graduate student, Ms. Lauffer also taught general music and group Suzuki classes at the Jarrow Montessori school for two years. She was also on faculty at the University of Colorado at Boulder for two years teaching violin to non-music majors.
Since moving to Colorado, Karen has decided to focus primarily on teaching, but still performs regularly. She has discovered a love for improvisation and folk music. She has performed and recorded with several Celtic, folk, ska, jam, and even hip-hop groups. Her former project, Delilah's Revenge, performed frequently throughout Colorado and Wyoming. Their music can be heard regularly on KRCC's Celtic Show, and TK99's Irish Power Hour. She is also the violist for the Mile High String Quartet and violinist in Colorado Classic Duo, a harp and violin duet. She also plays with a unique performance art group called Tree-o. Tree-o has performed at the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts, and is best known for writing all-original classical/folk tunes and performing them mounted in trees about 15 feet in the air.
She is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and the American String Teachers Association. She recently presented at the Colorado ASTA conference.
When not teaching or making music, Karen enjoys hiking, biking, photography, snowshoeing, playing the harp, and baseball.
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Click on either to hear Karen performing live.
Brune Macary
violin & viola
Bachelor's Violin Performance, M.M. Violin Performance, M.M. Violin Performance & Pedagogy
Suzuki Certified
(all levels, ages 3 through adult)
Teaching day: Monday, Tuesday
Rate: $35 for 30 minute, $53 for 45 minute, $70 for 60 minute
A native of Paris, France, Brune Macary has been studying music in the United States since 2006 upon graduation from the Conservatoire de Lyon. Brune has been an active performer and teacher in the Boulder area for the past three years. In addition to teaching violin and viola at Silver Strings Academy, she also teaches at the Dawson Elementary School and Fairview High school. She also maintains a small private studio in Boulder.
She completed her Suzuki certification with William Starr while she was studying for her second Master's degree in violin Performance and Pedagogy at CU Boulder. Being the graduate teaching assistant to Charles Wetherbee's violin studio she taught some of the undergraduate students and the non music majors.
She earned her first Masters degree in violin Performance at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) in May 2012. There, she was also a graduate teaching assistant, and member of the Nightingale String Quartet in residency. Brune earned her Bachelor's degree in violin performance at the Lawrence Conservatory (Wisconsin) in 2010
As a performer, Brune plays with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, the Boulder Bach Festival, and Steamboat Symphony, and enjoy playing chamber music with her friends.
violin & viola
Bachelor's Violin Performance, M.M. Violin Performance, M.M. Violin Performance & Pedagogy
Suzuki Certified
(all levels, ages 3 through adult)
Teaching day: Monday, Tuesday
Rate: $35 for 30 minute, $53 for 45 minute, $70 for 60 minute
A native of Paris, France, Brune Macary has been studying music in the United States since 2006 upon graduation from the Conservatoire de Lyon. Brune has been an active performer and teacher in the Boulder area for the past three years. In addition to teaching violin and viola at Silver Strings Academy, she also teaches at the Dawson Elementary School and Fairview High school. She also maintains a small private studio in Boulder.
She completed her Suzuki certification with William Starr while she was studying for her second Master's degree in violin Performance and Pedagogy at CU Boulder. Being the graduate teaching assistant to Charles Wetherbee's violin studio she taught some of the undergraduate students and the non music majors.
She earned her first Masters degree in violin Performance at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) in May 2012. There, she was also a graduate teaching assistant, and member of the Nightingale String Quartet in residency. Brune earned her Bachelor's degree in violin performance at the Lawrence Conservatory (Wisconsin) in 2010
As a performer, Brune plays with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, the Boulder Bach Festival, and Steamboat Symphony, and enjoy playing chamber music with her friends.
Adam Riggs
Cello
Bachelor's Music Performance, M.M Music Performance, DMA Music Performance
Suzuki Certified
(all levels, children and adults)
Teaching day: Thursday
$35 for 30 minute, $50 for 45 minute, $60 for 60 minute
Noted for his passionate and expressive playing, Dr. Adam Riggs is an avid chamber musician, teacher, and performer. He has performed and attended music festivals across Canada, the United States, Italy and the Czech Republic.
An avid teacher, Adam recently completing his Suzuki Teacher Training with Carol Tarr at the University of Denver and also completed his Suzuki Book 1 teacher training with Rick Mooney at the Greater Austin Suzuki Institute. He serves on the board of the Suzuki Association of Colorado and teaches at Rockley Music in Lakewood and Silver Strings Academy in Westminster, while maintaining a robust private studio in Arvada.
Learning the cello is something that everyone can do, with hard work and consistency. The skills that are required to become a good cellist and musician, such as tenacity, self awareness, posture, and listening, are skills that will build character and lead to success in any chosen field. Through the use of positive reinforcement and an emphasis on a strong technique, Adam helps his students achieve their goals.
Cello
Bachelor's Music Performance, M.M Music Performance, DMA Music Performance
Suzuki Certified
(all levels, children and adults)
Teaching day: Thursday
$35 for 30 minute, $50 for 45 minute, $60 for 60 minute
Noted for his passionate and expressive playing, Dr. Adam Riggs is an avid chamber musician, teacher, and performer. He has performed and attended music festivals across Canada, the United States, Italy and the Czech Republic.
An avid teacher, Adam recently completing his Suzuki Teacher Training with Carol Tarr at the University of Denver and also completed his Suzuki Book 1 teacher training with Rick Mooney at the Greater Austin Suzuki Institute. He serves on the board of the Suzuki Association of Colorado and teaches at Rockley Music in Lakewood and Silver Strings Academy in Westminster, while maintaining a robust private studio in Arvada.
Learning the cello is something that everyone can do, with hard work and consistency. The skills that are required to become a good cellist and musician, such as tenacity, self awareness, posture, and listening, are skills that will build character and lead to success in any chosen field. Through the use of positive reinforcement and an emphasis on a strong technique, Adam helps his students achieve their goals.
Kyla Witt
piano, violin, viola
Suzuki Certified
B.M. Viola Performance, M.M. Viola Performance, Certificate in Orchestral Studies
(all levels and ages welcome!)
Teaching Days: Monday, Sunday
$35 for 30 minute, $50 for 45 minute, $65 for 60 minute
Born in Michigan, Kyla Witt was studying piano, violin, and viola by the age of 6, and is now an avid freelance pianist, chamber and orchestral musician in the Greater Denver area as well as an enthusiastic music teacher! Most recently, she has performed classically as Principal Violist with the Mediterranean Opera Studio in Sicily, Italy and, in a more progressive-rock style, with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra,
and also the new, cutting edge Denver-based electric string quartet, Spinphony. Kyla earned a Master of Music Degree in viola performance from Bowling Green State University as a student of Matthew Daline while completing her two-year artist-in- residency program as the violist in the Graduate String Quartet. She completed her Suzuki certification for both piano and violin under the excellent tutelage of Marylin Anderson and Wendy Azrak, respectfully, while attending Grand Valley State University for her Bachelor of Music Performance degree. For many years, she also studied with pristine pianist and published author in the American Suzuki Journal, Armena Madersosian, a colleague of the great Dr. Suzuki himself. With over 10 years of teaching experience, Kyla loves to emphasize high pedagogical standards while creating a consistently positive, energetic, and nurturing environment for the inner life of each child. Great focus and, of course,
lots of good humor help bring her studio together into an ever-growing community. Aside from teaching and performing, Kyla enjoys outdoor adventure, traveling around the world, and adoring all animals – especially her spunky Bengal kitten, Pyrite.
piano, violin, viola
Suzuki Certified
B.M. Viola Performance, M.M. Viola Performance, Certificate in Orchestral Studies
(all levels and ages welcome!)
Teaching Days: Monday, Sunday
$35 for 30 minute, $50 for 45 minute, $65 for 60 minute
Born in Michigan, Kyla Witt was studying piano, violin, and viola by the age of 6, and is now an avid freelance pianist, chamber and orchestral musician in the Greater Denver area as well as an enthusiastic music teacher! Most recently, she has performed classically as Principal Violist with the Mediterranean Opera Studio in Sicily, Italy and, in a more progressive-rock style, with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra,
and also the new, cutting edge Denver-based electric string quartet, Spinphony. Kyla earned a Master of Music Degree in viola performance from Bowling Green State University as a student of Matthew Daline while completing her two-year artist-in- residency program as the violist in the Graduate String Quartet. She completed her Suzuki certification for both piano and violin under the excellent tutelage of Marylin Anderson and Wendy Azrak, respectfully, while attending Grand Valley State University for her Bachelor of Music Performance degree. For many years, she also studied with pristine pianist and published author in the American Suzuki Journal, Armena Madersosian, a colleague of the great Dr. Suzuki himself. With over 10 years of teaching experience, Kyla loves to emphasize high pedagogical standards while creating a consistently positive, energetic, and nurturing environment for the inner life of each child. Great focus and, of course,
lots of good humor help bring her studio together into an ever-growing community. Aside from teaching and performing, Kyla enjoys outdoor adventure, traveling around the world, and adoring all animals – especially her spunky Bengal kitten, Pyrite.
If you are searching for private flute lessons, please contact Alaunde Copley-Woods in South Boulder.
