About Sensei

About Sensei

Glenda-Sensei, Suzuki Violin Pedagogue

I created Westminster Suzuki Strings in 2003 to build a Suzuki Community in Carroll County, Maryland. My goal is to provide high quality violin instruction that’s comprehensive, nurturing, fun and offers a space for our community to practice kindness.

I began my own violin journey as a suzuki kid in the early 1990’s and have entered my 19th year of educating young artists! I have studied Violin Performance, Suzuki violin pedagogy, Music Education, Therapeutic Music as well as hospice and palliative care at Carroll Community College, Towson University, The Greater Washington Suzuki Institute and the Larner College of Medicine (University of Vermont). I currently perform with the Hanover Symphony Orchestra. In addition to teaching music, I also work as a Clinical Musician (therapeutic music) and Death Doula (End of Life care, Hospice/Palliative care). I provide care in the ICU, NICU, PICU and other medical settings. I’m a practitioner of Sōtō Zen Buddhism and Veganism.

How do families address you?

We use a lot of Japanese customs and etiquette in the studio. We use the international bow as a greeting and Japanese honorifics. Dr. Suzuki was from Japan and asked his teachers to instruct students with these customs. Much of the Suzuki philosophy stems from Japanese culture and is the basis for how/what/what we do. Parents may address me by first name or the same manner as their child. Students will address me as:

• Sensei (pronounced “sen-say”, Japanese)
  • Sensei (先生) meaning “teacher” or literally translated, “born first” or “one who has gone before”. A Sensei is a person who has knowledge and is willing to give that knowledge to another. This honorific is not gender specific, it’s applied to people of all genders and identities.
• My Pronouns: She/her/hers