About Me

Hello! I'm Katherine Crucilla, an experienced educator with over 17 years of teaching and tutoring experience. I specialize in beginner and early-intermediate violin and cello instruction for children, teens, and adult beginners. My lessons focus on building strong fundamentals while creating a supportive and encouraging learning environment. I work with students across a wide age range, including young beginners, adolescents, and adults returning to music later in life. My instruction emphasizes proper posture, bow hold, finger placement, tone production, rhythm, and music reading. I adapt lessons carefully for the online setting and focus on helping new musicians feel confident and successful from the very first lesson. I especially enjoy working with students who are just beginning their musical journey or who may feel uncertain about learning an instrument. My teaching style combines clear explanations, structured progress, and positive reinforcement to keep students motivated and engaged. In addition to music instruction, I provide tutoring in psychology, writing, study skills, and college readiness. I hold a Master's degree in Psychology from Capella University and frequently support students with ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and different learning styles by creating individualized learning strategies that build both skills and confidence. I also offer beginner cooking lessons for students who want to learn essential kitchen skills. These sessions focus on kitchen safety, basic cooking techniques, following recipes, meal planning, and building confidence in the kitchen. Cooking lessons can be especially helpful for teens preparing for independence or adults who want to develop practical life skills. As an experienced online instructor and curriculum developer, I enjoy breaking complex ideas into clear, manageable steps. Whether we are learning a new bowing technique, preparing a meal, or strengthening academic skills, my goal is to make learning approachable, effective, and empoweringone lesson at a time. Adult beginners are always welcome, and no previous experience is required. My music lessons often incorporate beginner method books such as Essential Elements for Strings and Suzuki Book 1, depending on the student's goals and experience.

Education & Certifications

Tutoring Subjects