Join Maria's studio
About the lessons
Welcome parents, guardians, students, families, and friends. I hope you've had a chance to explore my musical journey — shaped by years of experience as a performer, soloist, chamber musician, and educator across the globe.
At my studio, I offer violin and viola private lessons to individuals of all ages — from as young as 3 to as experienced as 80 — who are passionate about music, and learning.
I have a strong background in individual and group instruction, masterclasses, and leading sectionals, I bring a well-rounded and joyful approach to music education. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your skills, there's a place for you here.
To schedule a lesson or to request information about Maria's Studio CLICK HERE.
Trajectory
From a young age, Maria has held a deep respect and passion for both music and teaching. Her musical foundation was shaped by El Sistema, the internationally renowned music education program from Venezuela. This early influence provided her with rich teaching opportunities from the very start of her musical journey.
In her home country of Venezuela, Maria taught at several El Sistema institutions, including the Academic Youth Orchestra, Infantile Lisandro Ramirez Orchestra, Libertador Infantile Orchestra, and the Carabobo Youth Orchestra. These experiences laid the groundwork for a lifelong dedication to music education.
After moving to the United States, Maria continued to grow as an educator while pursuing her degrees. She has taught in a variety of respected programs, including the University of Kentucky String Project, Accent08 Music Festival at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) Summer Sessions. At UNCG, she also served as a Teaching Assistant, further refining her pedagogy and leadership skills.
Maria’s teaching experience spans a wide range of settings—from elementary schools such as Clara Peck Elementary (Greensboro, NC) and Diggs-Latham Elementary (Winston-Salem, NC) to middle and high schools like Lucas Middle School and Northern High School. She has also worked as a music teacher advisor and artistic coordinator for KidZNotes, a program inspired by El Sistema’s philosophy, and as a manager and faculty member at Da Capo Al Coda Music Studio. She currently teaches orchestra at the amazing Washington Gifted and Talented Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, NC.
Today, Maria teaches music to both K-12 and collegiate-level students, continually enriching her teaching approach through research, experience, and a deep commitment to musical excellence. She currently offers private instruction at her studio in Durham, NC, where she continues to share her love for music with students of all ages.
Methodologies
About the teaching methods used. I basically like to approach the beginner student through the methods of Essential Elements and Suzuki. It is a clear method that demands from the student and it simultaneous engages the interaction and participation of their parents, family, friends, and their community as well. As student advances, we explore the different music literature to experience challenges and improve the level or reading and performance of the student.
The Outcomes
Apart from the academic outcomes the student will obtain at my lessons, my intentions as a teacher and artist is to incorporate and welcome the student in the fantastic music world and literature. One of the many purposes of music is the idea of the student developing a sense of responsibility along with following tasks in a didactic and dynamic manner. I love bringing and promoting the idea and the philosophy of enthusing and inculcating a leadership position of the student in the family, and building most importantly a harmonic and artistic environment among their relatives and into their homes. I love to program and propose little student recitals in where the student will have the opportunity in performing the pieces worked throughout the teaching sessions in a little concert for their friends and family. Every student loves the fun in which they get from these opportunities and from their performance experiences. I do believe that the learning and instruction of music is an important influential factor in participating and in the development of many other abilities and skills; in the expansion and promotion of creativity, the adoption of a more discipline attitude for other arts, it helps to easier approach other academic courses, and to focus on developing the tools and creativity to participate at their schools and anywhere else.