LapinsMusicStudio

Kari Lapins started Suzuki violin at eight in Flagstaff, Arizona. She holds a BA in Performing Arts Management (Columbia College Chicago) and a MM in Violin Performance/Suzuki Pedagogy (Northern Arizona University). She studied violin with Ruth Giauque, Phyllis Sanders, Dr. Louise Scott, Dr. Karin Hallberg, Dr. Susan Baer, and Geoffrey Herd. She studied Suzuki Pedagogy with Dr. Louise Scott, Dr. Karin Hallberg, Dr. Susan Baer, Teri Einfeldt, and Dr. Julia Hardie. She has also done extensive training in Music Mind Games with Michiko Yurko, creator.
Previously, Kari taught violin/viola, group class, fiddle, and Music Mind Games for NAU Community Music and Dance Academy, Suzuki in the Schools (grades K-2) at Marshall Magnet Elementary, performed with Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, Verde Valley Sinfonietta, Slugs from Space Quartet, and hosted a weekly Irish session. She received the Viola Award for Music in 2012 (Flagstaff’s version of an arts Academy Award).
She has completed Suzuki Training in Every Child Can, Suzuki Principles in Action, Violin Books 1-10, and Viola book 4. She has taken numerous Music Mind Games Units (levels 1 and 2) and became a Teacher Trainer for Unit 1 in July 2014 and Unit 2 in June 2023. She has taught since 2004 and at workshops and institutes in Phoenix, Prescott, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Durango, Charlotte, Boston, Austin, Copenhagen, Ithaca, Knoxville, Eugene and Flagstaff. She has co-presented at the Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference in Minneapolis and Louisville several times. 
Kari currently performs with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Bryan Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of the Mountains, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and attends the bi-weekly Knoxville Irish session. She is a board member of Traditional Irish Arts of Knoxville and a member of Knoxville Area Suzuki Cooperative. She currently teaches a studio of about 28 students.