Celebrating 25 Years

Today I turned 30 which means I am also celebrating 25 years (that's a quarter of a century!) of playing the violin. Many Suzuki students start young and I was no exception. It is so great to teach young students and be reminded of all the fun and challenging times I had with my wonderful Suzuki teachers. What a wonderful circle of life!

La Folia Memorized!

I am happy to say that today I played La Folia (all 4 pages) memorized for Jeanne (my teacher trainer) to finally pass all the requirements for Book 6 Teacher Training. This experience reminded me of how hard my students work each day to master the music that they learn and I appreciate all the effort they put into their little instruments. Listening to the music on CD (a LOT!) and drilling the hard parts made it so much easier to master. And isn't that the purpose of practice? To make a difficult instrument become easy!!!

Suzuki Book 6 Teacher Training

Cathy Marlor & Jeanne Grover

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I decided to be ambitious this year. Along with building a house and chasing after my 2-year old, I took Suzuki Book 6 Teacher Training from Jeanne Grover. The class was 15 hours long with 8 hours of observations and this weekend I completed all the requirements except for one: memorizing LaFolia. I will be finishing that up soon and sending my registration of the course to the SAA. This will upgrade my status with the Suzuki Association of Utah to Advanced Active Teacher. Cool, huh!?! Jeanne, as always, is a wealth of knowledge and I'm excited to apply what I've learned. Thanks Jeanne!

My Tender Moments

Amelia Butler (1987-2007)

Sisters having one last pedicure...

Three Sisters, Three Set of Toes

Funeral Program

Cathy Marlor, Tracy Hales, Rebekah Butler
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I share this very tender moment in my music blog only because it was one of the most powerful music experiences of my life. I am profoundly grateful to have had the skill and ability to honor my little sister with music. This gave me great comfort and peace at a very difficult time. And for all mother's who struggle each day to practice with and encourage your children, please believe that there may likely come a day when all your efforts will be realized in a very special moment in time when your child will know, without a doubt, that every lesson, every practice, and every penny was well spent. They may not always tell you, but they will be very thankful for all that went into developing this gift of music that they will enjoy throughout their lives. I sincerely hope this gives a broader perspective to the never-ending struggle of learning a very difficult instrument. I have so much respect and admiration for all parents who give love and support to their children, if not through music, then through any endeavor that uplifts the child!

My Fun Moments

Miss Utah Pageant 1998

Playing "The Hot Canary" in a hot dress!

Cathy Butler, Miss Layton 1997-98

Mary McDounagh, Miss Utah 1997-98

I played the Fiddler in The Fiddler on the Roof
I got to climb up and play on the roof!

China 2005
I was invited to tour with the Weber State Symphony

The Music Conservatory in Xian, China
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I always tell my students that you never know where your instrument might take you. Mine took me through pageants, paid for college, put me in musicals, and sent me to China.

My Post-College Orchestra Experience

New American Philharmonic (2006-Present)

Music for Fireworks at Weber State University

Kris, David Van Alstyne (our conductor), Cathy

Strings of Elegance (2002-Present)
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Since my college years, I have enjoyed playing with the New American Philharmonic - a great volunteer community symphony orchestra in our area and with Strings of Elegance - my string quartet that plays professionally for weddings and other special events. For more information about these groups you can visit:
newamericanphilharmonic.org
soequartet.blogspot.com

My College Orchestra Experience

Ricks College Graduation (1997-1999)

Cathy Butler Marlor and Dr. Kevin Call

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I got a great orchestral scholarship to Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) where I got my associate degree in Interpersonal Communications. To maintain my scholarship I attended 2-hour rehearsals 5 days per week from 10am-12pm. This put me in both the symphony and chamber orchestras. What a fabulous way to pay for college! Ricks had a fine-arts 100 requirement for all students so we had a lot of support for our many concerts due to the fact that every student had to attend 20 various concerts on campus in order to graduate. The funnest by far is the annual Halloween concert which always has a fun theme, strobe lights, hand-carved pumpkins, and lots of craziness. We always did 6 of these performances because it was so popular. I've since attended a few myself and they are just as fun from the audience. BYU-Idaho recently had an orchestra reunion in honor of Dr. Call which I attended and loved! I picked the right school when I picked Ricks. I met my now husband of 10-years on the first day of classes!

All-Occasions String Quartet (1999-2001)

Elizabeth McFadden, Jenny Melville, Cathy Marlor, Jennifer Cosman

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After Ricks, we moved to Logan, UT where we attended Utah State University. On an academic scholarship, I got my bachelor degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and graduated summa cum laude in spring of 2001. While there, I kept up my violin skills by playing in the All-Occasions String Quartet.

My Pre-College Orchestra Experience

Layton High School Orchestra (1994-1997)

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I enjoyed playing in my high school orchestra and singing in the acapella choir. We went on several trips to California during this time (Disneyland and San Fransico). My main objective in high school in regards to music was to become our Music Sterling Scholar during my senior year. I was able to accomplish this goal and I appreciate the music opportunities which I participated in. The competition was tough so I was glad I'd made contributions to our LHS music programs.
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Utah Youth Symphony (1992-1997)

with Barbara Scowcroft

Amelia, Rebekah, me, Barbara, Ralph
(Feb. 2002 SLC Winter Olympics Cultural Olympiad)
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Sometime in our Utah Youth Symphony years, Barbara married Utah Symphony’s concertmaster Ralph Matson. We participated in side-by-side concerts with the Utah Symphony where we got to play with professionals - what an honor! I remember Saturdays in junior high and high school started very early - 7:30-10:00am at the University of Utah Gardner Hall for rehearsals. We played the most amazing symphonies and it gave me a lot of great note-reading practice. I love the picture above that was taken during the SLC Winter Olympics. I was already graduated from college but Rebekah, my sister, played for the events and Amelia, my other sister, had been involved with the orchestra too. If you want to know more about the Utah Youth Symphony visit:
utahyouthsymphony.org

My Piano Trophy

I took piano off and on for many years but my main instruction was through high school with Colleen Maloy who I took from for about 3 years. She lived down the street from my violin teacher and so I would go from one lesson to the other each week. One year I got motivated and learned 50 hymns and a showy recital piece and for this she gave me the coveted "Outstanding Progress" award in June of 1995. I am sorry to say that I have not kept up with my piano playing as much as I have violin. But my knowledge of the keyboard is extremely helpful in understanding music theory and helps me to this day in that regard.

My ASTA Trophies

ASTA First Place 1996

Weber State University

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For several years I competed in the local chapter of the American String Teachers Association and in 1996 I took first place for my division. Most everything I did with my violin growing up was not competitive but this was. I still don't know how I won with so much stiff competition; I have a lot of respect and admiration for my competitors. This great honor gave me confidence as I went into my senior year and started auditioning for college scholarships.

My Federation Trophies

These are not your average trophies. Each trophy took 2-3 years to earn with the requirement of several consecutive superior ratings from the National Federation of Music Clubs. I cherish these because of how much work and how many years went into earning them.

My BYU Music Camps

BYU Music Camp 1994

(I'm at the top)

BYU Music Camp 1995

(lunchtime with friends)

BYU Music Camp 1996
(I'm on the left with my quartet/instructor)

I got to sleep in the dorms like a college student - very cool!
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BYU Music Camps were intense and fun. So intense I would usually get a "violin hickey" - a spot on the neck where the violin is placed that with a lot of practice will bring about a mark that looks just like a hickey. I always felt bad because it was hard for me to get one and I thought it was because I didn't practice enough but I later found out that it has more to do with your type of skin and it's reaction to the type of would your instrument is made out of. Nevertheless, 8 hours a day with my violin at BYU was enough for me to get one. Yeah!

My Suzuki String Institute Experience

WITCHES DANCE!

Institute is full of excitement for students. This is me back in 1988 dancing to "Witches Dance" (Suzuki, Book 2). I distinctly remember this being great fun!

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Intermountain Suzuki Institute - ISI

(est. in 1978 with all Suzuki instruments represented)

Utah State University 1988

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Advanced String Camp

(the year of ISI - ISSI transition)

Salt Lake City, UT 1993

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Intermountain Suzuki String Institute - ISSI

(first year as Suzuki strings only)

St. George, UT 1994

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Intermountain Suzuki String Institute
(my last year at ISSI as a Suzuki student)
Salt Lake Community College 1995

Master Class with Gerald Elias
(Associate Concertmaster of the Utah Symphony since 1988)

Suzuki Institutes gave me so many opportunities as a young violinist to meet and associate with some of the best instructors/instrumentalists around!

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If you'd like more information about ISSI, please visit: intermountainsuzukistringinstitute.com

My Suzuki Graduation

Suzuki Graduation Concert 1989
(I'm in the red dress)

There are 10 books in the Suzuki repertoire. The first 8 have graduation pieces in them. The last 2 are Mozart Concertos. Through the years, I graduated from all levels and learned both concertos. In 2004, in order to become eligible for teacher training, I made a video tape of myself playing one of those Mozart concertos (about 10 minutes in length) and sent it into the SAA to be evaluated. I was so nervous about it but all the work and effort paid off. I am eligible to receive training to teach through all the Suzuki books. So far I've completed the teacher-training for books 1-5.

My Sisters - Violin Memories

Rebekah Butler

She started when she was 3. Now she's a virtuoso!

Amelia Butler

Picture taken with Terry Durbin at ISSI

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I come from a family of three girls. I am the oldest. We were all nurtured by the Suzuki method growing up. These are great pictures of my two sisters as young violinists. Aren't they cute?

My Second Violin Teacher

Karen Child (1988)

when I first started with her...

Vivaldi 4-Seasons Concert (1995)

I played "Winter" with her chamber orchestra

My Senior Graduation Recital (1997)

Karen was my teacher for 9 years. She taught me to play with musical expression and feeling. Now that I am a Suzuki teacher, I aspire to the greatness of my teachers. I have a lot of admiration!

My First Violin Teacher

Suzuki Teacher: Janet Baine (Epperson)

Christmas Concert at ZCMI ~ December 1987

My Book 1 Violin Recital ~ October 1986

So this is me as a young Suzuki student. My first violin teacher was actually John Pickering (Jeanne Grover's son) but he went off to college and then I became the student of and stayed with Janet Baine (now Epperson) for awhile. I even attended her wedding! We now both teach in the same town of Layton and I've enjoyed recently observing her teach as part of my required teacher-training observations. Jeanne, the mother of my very first teacher, is the one and only violin teacher-trainer for Utah. She is a joy to work with and I learn a lot from her. What a wonderful, small Suzuki world I live in!

My First Violin

My First Violin ~ So Exciting!

I started taking Suzuki violin lessons when I was 5-years old. Now I am a Suzuki teacher and have a whole new appreciation for this method of instruction. I love Dr. Suzuki's book "Nurtured by Love" and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a child. Thanks to my mom and to all my teachers who loved me enough to give me this wonderful gift of music!