I began playing piano at 4, violin at 8, and harp at 16. I played first chair violin in the regional youth orchestra all throughout primary and high school. I was fortunate to have studied with Alice Chalifoux, the famed harpist with the Cleveland Orchestra and instructor at the Cleveland Institute of Music, as well as Lee Heuermann, noted jazz and composition teacher. Both of these teachers had a profound influence on my life as a musician, composer, and teacher and inspired me to make this my full-time endeavor.
I have been a professional musician for 50 years. I have been the recipient of many composition grants from the Georgia Council for the Arts, The Kentucky Foundation for Women, Fulton County Arts Council, and I received a $10,000 grant from the American Composer’s Forum/Youth Art Connection of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Atlanta. I won a national public radio contest for my arrangement of Stormy Weather which was aired on NPR’s Marketplace Radio when the stocks were down. As a free-lance harpist I have released recordings Harp+Light1, Susan Ottzen’s Jazz Harp Trio 2019, and Reverie, original compositions for the harp solo, 2020. I also was harpist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Robert Shaw.
I consider myself a Teaching Artist; a practicing professional artist with complementary skills, curiosities, and sensibilities of an educator who can effectively engage a wide range of people in learning experiences in, through, and about the arts.
As a music teacher for 35 years, I have a wide array of techniques to draw from in order to customize the experience of each students. I teach piano and harp for adults and children individually or in groups, and due to Covid-19, I offer these lessons virtually via Zoom. I implement a team approach to teaching children, teens and adults, where parent, student, and I work together for optimal impact and outcomes. I teach jazz, blues, and composition in addition to traditional repertoire.
I have observed that my students can expect improvement in many areas of their lives as a result of our work together: creativity, personal discipline, time management skills, better academic performance, enhanced emotional development, a sense of achievement, self-confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, my students report they have an enhanced experience of beauty and understanding why this is so. Of course, this is in addition to the basics of music, starting from learning notes to making music of their own.
In my lessons, I aim to balance traditional music literacy with a sense of playfulness. Additionally, I blend teacher-initiated and student- initiated learning in an open-ended manner which allows each student to experience a sense of ownership and personal achievement as they progress. The teaching environment is one free from pressure and judgement and focuses on progress and fun.
I have seen the impact my role as a teacher has on my students, it is one I take on with great care. Due to the amount of time I spend with students, over many years, I have had the opportunity to support them in all areas of their lives. I celebrate their accomplishments and encourage them to strive for excellence, always. As a result many students remain in contact with me and keep me informed of the milestones in their lives such as graduations, jobs, marriages, and birth of their children. It is an honor and a privilege to be part of their lives