Strings Teachers

Callie Dean

I'm originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, and I began taking violin lessons at the age of five through the Centenary Suzuki School. Growing up, I played in my school orchestra, local youth symphony, All-State Orchestra, and the National High School Honor Orchestra. When I was still in high school, I began playing in professional symphony orchestras throughout the Ark-La-Tex region. In 2008, I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I gained experience playing charanga (Cuban music), jazz, and bluegrass in addition to classical music.

Katie Baughman

Hi! I teach voice and violin at Eclectic Music. Although I teach all styles of voice, my passion is for opera and folk music. With violin, I teach Suzuki and Irish fiddle music. Both of my degrees (a Bachelor and Master of Music from Georgia State University) are in vocal performance, but my life has always been divided among my three great loves: singing, playing violin and Irish dancing. I am an Atlanta native, and was always playing music as a child. My mom was a fantastic violin teacher, and my dad is a great singer: no wonder that my sister and I both decided to make music our careers as well! Growing up my strengths as a musician were definitely that I loved to play and I could play things by ear very easily. My weakness was definitely that I didn't love the structure of practice until I got into more advanced technique. My nerdy favorite thing about teaching are those students who love rhythm as much as I do! Who knew subdividing could be so fun? When I teach, I try to tailor my approach to the students, but I am a die hard Suzuki teacher. I was a Suzuki kid myself, and I happen to think I turned out ok, so I stick with what I know! My hobbies outside of music are not many, because I spend so much time doing so many different kinds of music, but I love taking new dance classes and traveling. You can check out my website at www.katiembaughman.com.

LaTonya Peoples

I was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas. I began taking violin lessons at the age of five. At the age of sixteen I became a certified Suzuki Violin Instructor giving private lessons. I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Music Therapy from Howard University in May of 1994. I moved to Atlanta, Georgia in April of 1995 to pursue a career in Music Therapy and private Violin Instruction. I also have classroom teaching experience as an Orchestra Director and a Special Education Paraprofessional in the Clayton County Public School System. I have worked with several populations including Special Education, AIDS, and Psychiatric Patients. I am also a professional performing/recording Violinist and Vocalist. I have professional experience performing solo, and with ensembles, throughout the United States as a Violinist, Vocalist, Percussionist, and Songwriter. I have performed for several organizations including ZAMI, Charis Books, The Atlanta Lesbian Cancer Initiative, and The Feminist Women’s Health Center. I toured the 2005 and 2006 seasons with UniverSoul Circus, visiting 26 major cities, as a featured Violinist and Vocalist. I was a featured performer with the LA Women's Fest in 2006. The show has aired on national television since January 2007 on the LOGO channel. I can be heard as a Violinist on CD’s recorded by Doria Roberts and Left Eye Productions/TLC. I am also the owner and operator of the Lpeop Music and Recording Studio. In my studio I have recorded and produced four CD’s displaying my wide range in styles of music. Styles include Original Music, Jazz, Rock, Spirituals, and Folk. I have given workshops and in-services on Songwriting, Jazz Improvisation, and Music Therapy for The Georgia Music Therapy Association and The Suzuki Association of the Americas. I have performed in ensembles opening for Gladys Knight, Michelle NDegeocello, Angelique Kidjo, and Alice Walker. Places performed include The Smithsonian Institution, Howard University w/The Uptown String Quartet, Emory University, Carter Baron Theater, Wolf Trap Theater w/Keter Betts, The Ford Amphitheater, and The Variety Playhouse. I have been featured on BET’s Jazz Central program with Hue, a Jazz Trio. I have also been heard on National Public Radio's Wade in The Water Series featuring Sweet Honey In The Rock. CD's can be purchased on iTunes.com and CDBaby.com.

Personal Quote: “Search For Acceptance Within Yourself”

Jessica Kornhoff

I’m a freelance cellist that teaches and performs in and around Atlanta. I started cello in Virginia at the age of nine but didn’t take my first cello lesson in Georgia until I was 13. I actually never wanted to play cello, I begged my dad to let me sign up for French Horn instead but he stayed firm on his decision and to this day I still thank him for being stead fast on that choice! I used to wish that I had started cello earlier but with the training I later received, and dedication on my part, put me rather close to the level of other cellists that started younger.

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Cello Performance and I’m currently working on my Master’s in Cello Performance at Georgia State University. I’ve pulled many great things from my previous teachers and incorporated them into my lesson plans with my student cellists. I may be big on scales and fuss about having good cello posture but every student cellist, in my studio, gets to work on fun pieces of cello literature.

I not only teach cello at Eclectic Music but I have a daughter that takes violin lessons at Eclectic Music! She loves her teacher and all the fun things to do at Eclectic Music.
Music should not only be informative but fun! Whether your cellist is 4 years old, a teenager, young adult, or an adult cellist cello can be fun and highly rewarding if practiced enough.