Make
Strings
Sing
All About Me
Becca started piano at age 4 and began studying classical violin at age 9.
In high school, she started experimenting with writing rock & pop music with her friends
They formed a band & played around coffee shops in town. Eventually they recorded an EP, 2 albums and went on a 10 day tour.
Along with being in a band in her teens, she was accepted as an orchestra member in the Des Moines Youth Symphony.
After high school, Becca was awarded a music scholarship to Iowa State University. During her time there she led a large violin section as principal violinist in the ISU symphony, ranked top 2 out of 300 music majors with a strong ear in aural theory and provided private violin lessons to college students.
Becca took advantage of all the music knowledge suddenly surrounding her. She was highly motivated and interested in composing and spent several years in private lessons with composition professors. They taught her the art of writing melodies for different instrument families and how to apply music theory to staff paper. Along with private composition lessons, she decided to explore other instruments by taking private percussion and cello lessons.
Outside of class she composed songs on the piano and was lead singer in a piano driven pop band. The band became well known to college students on campus and they frequently played shows on the weekends and in between classes. One of her most memorable shows she had was sharing the stage with artist, St. Vincent at the popular Maintenance Shop venue.
As she honed her musical skills she received the honor of being asked to join the top string quartet at Iowa State. The master quartet would often be requested to play at the University Presidents home for professional events along with other corporate events around campus. Experiencing success in teamwork through a small ensemble setting was invaluable for her growth as a well rounded musician.
Following graduation from ISU in 2009, Becca decided to pursue her passion for teaching violin and string instruments. She joined the Suzuki Association of the Americas and went on to attend numerous teacher training camps in order to become certified and knowledgable in the different levels of this method. Shortly after certification, she launched her career path into becoming a professional string instructor with confidence and a clear understanding of teaching methods and concepts.
She would continue to overlap rock and classical music throughout her musical journey. Balancing the two styles was challenging, and made her a strong, well rounded musician. It would test her ear (rock band music doesn't have staff paper) and really test her ability to execute technique and delicate attention to detail when working on complex classical pieces. These experiences inevitably carry into the way she teaches.
In 2010 she was invited to join Iowa’s favorite folk rock band The Nadas.
While in the band, she had the opportunity to record and write on 2 albums. She and the band traveled on Meatloaf’s tour bus, complete with triple bus bunk beds and a lounge in the back dedicated to Mario Kart competitions. The band would often hold residency, playing shows each night for a week in places like Evergreen, Colorado’s “Little Bear Saloon. They also went on a cross country tour to promote their new album, "Almanac." This would land them in places like New York, San Francisco and rooftop shows at the SXSW Festival in Austin.
Becca opened for The Beach Boys with The Nadas during a tour 2011.
In 2018 she was inducted into Iowa’s Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame with her band The Nadas.
She was also in the band Parlours. Their song “I dream of Chicago” was selected to air during the series finale of Fox Networks TV show “Chicago.”
While in Memphis with The Nadas for the National Alliance for Folk Musicians conference, Becca met singer songwriter Stephen Simmons. They kept in touch and later that year joined forces as a duo act for a 2 week tour in Europe.
With guitar and violin strapped on back, Stephen and Becca swiftly rolled their suitcases in and out of subways in order to make it to the next city and sound check in time. Playing and talking music with folks in places like Belgium & London was a beautiful adventure for her to experience.
During her time living in Colorado she got to mingle with the local musicians in the band scene, converse with the Lumineers and end up joining a band that would play a sold out show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. She continued to sharpen her teaching skills by conducting high school string quartets and instruct students on instruments, building a class of 40 private students.
Over the years Becca built a studio portfolio which holds over 100 tracks and 40 albums she wrote and recorded on. These recordings capture a wide range of instruments ranging from professional piano compositions to lead vocals and fiddle tunes. She has taught over 100 students. Many have gone on to play in select orchestras, major or minor in music or become professionals in their own right.
Her classical training alongside her knowledge and experience in performing and writing for musicians has equipped her with a well rounded approach to music. She tailors each individual student’s lesson to their specific musical goals and desires. Her lessons include ear training, pitch, rhythm, scales and lesson books, in addition to her students favorite music styles. She currently writes string arrangements for local artists, performs on her loop pedal system and entertains for weddings and corporate events.
“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.”
The Power of a Great Music Teacher
I am a serious and dedicated teacher who is a great communicator of musical knowledge and technical skills while fostering a positive and engaging learning enviornment.
In every lesson, I exhibit patience, understanding, and a commitment to continuous learning, showcasing my professional development. Students and parents can expect a fun and engaging learning environment which makes music lessons enjoyable and stimulating.
I am a highly effective music teacher because I keep the concepts at the highest level but the explanations short and incredibly clear. I am a teacher who always has a target I am aiming to move each student toward and do everything in my power to guide them toward it in the most efficient manner.
Throughout my schooling and music experiences, I have developed a strong grasp of musical concepts like rhythm, melody, harmony, and form. I love these fundamentals and know how to teach them to my students. I understand that technique is essential, and take the appropriate time to introduce proper technique at the beginning to honor the foundations of playing a musical instrument. I understand that the building blocks such as posture and hand position are critical to beginners, and understand that these fundamentals must be constantly reinforced.
Over the years I have gathered knowledge of diverse musical styles. Because of this, I can introduce students to various genres and periods of music. Many times I will also demonstrate a style so that a student can have an up close listening experience and start to form an opinion on how they want their instrument to sing.
I treat each student as an individual and recognize that students learn at different paces and have different needs.I provide support and guidance when students face difficulties. It is my believe that every child is capable of becoming proficient at their craft. Those who persist and practice in a mindful way will grow and reach their potential :)
