About me...
My name is Karen Egger and I've been teaching private violin, viola, and cello lessons since I was 16 years old! I love making a difference in the lives of my students through teaching them music. I enjoy teaching students who have never played an instrument before, teaching traditional and Suzuki lessons, and working with advanced violin students who are looking to expand their horizons and learn how to improvise, play in a new style, or go electric!
Although I got my start in the classical world, half of my performing career has been playing by ear and playing folk music. I love playing and teaching fiddle tunes to students! I play Celtic, Bluegrass, and Gypsy fiddle tunes and enjoy incorporating folk music into lessons. The notes are the same on the violin and fiddle, the difference is mainly in ornamentation and bowing techniques.
If you are excited to learn to play a stringed instrument, I'm excited to teach you!
-Karen Egger
My Teaching Philosophy ♬
Why do I teach music?
Not because I expect you to major in music
Not because I expect you to play or sing all your life
Not so you can relax... Not so you can have fun
BUT, So you will be human...
So you will recognize beauty... So you will be sensitive...
So you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world...
So you will have something to cling to... So you will have more love...
...more compassion
...more gentleness
...more good
- in short, more life.
Teaching Background & Education ♬
I moved to Travelers Rest, South Carolina from Colorado in June 2022 to be closer to my family who is in North Carolina and Florida. I've been teaching remotely and out of my home in the upstate since Fall 2022. Before that, here's where I've taught:
Teaching Experience:
Piano Central Studios: Greenville, SC. Violin, viola, cello teacher
Silver Strings Academy: Westminster, CO. music school owner, violin, viola, cello, fiddle teacher
University of Colorado, Boulder: String Pedagogy Professor
Karen Lauffer Strings. Westminster, CO
Music & Arts. Westminster, CO
University of Colorado, Boulder. Applied Violin
Jarrow Montessori School
Menchey Music Education Center. York, PA
Education:
Suzuki Certification. Boulder, CO
Trained with Wiliam Starr who was trained by Dr. Suzuki
Master's of Violin Performance & Pedagogy. University of Colorado, Boulder
Bachelors of Music Education. York College of Pennsylvania. York, PA
Performing Experience ♬
Electric Violinist in Cirque Dreams Holidaze, a division of Cirque du Soliel
Violinist/Fiddler in Tree-O at Breckenridge International Festival of Arts
Violist in Mile High String Quartet
Violist in York Symphony Orchestra
Violinist in Shippensburg Festival Orchestra
Celtic Fiddler in Delilah's Revenge
Freelance violin, viola, and cellist for 15 years
On a Personal Note ♬
When I'm not making music, I can be found mountain biking with my husband, hiking with my sister, kayaking with family, gardening, hanging out with our dogs, and studying instructional design. I enjoy playing violin in my church as well.
These days, I play with an adaptive device on my bow. I lost the ability to bend my right thumb over a year ago and have re-learned how to play without it!