“Where words fail, music speaks.” ―
Hans Christian Andersen
Since a very young age I became intrigued by the beautiful sound of the violin. Even before my lessons officially started, I wanted nothing more than to make music together with others.
My first official lessons I started in a group setting where we were taught violin by the Suzuki method. In this method singing, playing together and giving concerts everywhere from a very early age made it a very positive experience. In my own teaching I try to incorporate a lot of the philosophies of Suzuki to make learning music as fun and effortless as possible.
Over the following years I kept playing the violin with passion. Next to this I also developed a strong interest in (child)development, learning processes and psychology in general. Therefore, I decided to study Psychology at the University of Leiden where I took several in-dept courses on learning and development next to the general curriculum.
After completing my bachelor’s in Psychology, I decided to follow my dream to study violin professionally which I did at the University of the Arts Codarts in Rotterdam.
Currently I am studying at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste where I follow the Master in Music Pedagogy. In this study my love for music and teaching are coming together.
During this study I have also been able to deepen my knowledge in music physiology. When I play and when I teach, I pay special attention to a healthy and pain-free posture.
For me, one of the best parts of playing the violin is to make music together with others. Personally, I love playing in orchestras which has brought me to beautiful concert halls and special locations all over the world. With orchestra’s like the ZHdK strings, VU – Orchestra Amsterdam, Nederlands Studenten Orkest en het Ricciotti ensemble I played in Reykjavik, Vienna, Moscow, Birmingham, Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam and many other countries all over the world.
Also special concerts in refugee centers, concerts for deaf children and collaborations with writers, singers and dancers belong to my favorite musical performances.
I am playing on a violin built by Guust Francois and with a bow build by Karel van der Meer, both on loan from the Nationaal Muziekinstrumenten Fonds (Dutch Fund for Musical Instruments).
www.muziekinstrumentenfonds.nl/