Student of the Month: April 2025 Edition

Mar 18

Sometimes, the sAs spring starts to unfold, I have two sunny Students of the Month to share with you who will most certainly make you smile. From creative art projects to optimistic attitudes, these two are a breath of fresh air!

Elodie Smallwood

Allow me to introduce Elodie, an animal-loving student who enjoys crafts, ballet, and graphic novels. Elodie has previously taken piano lessons, though she is currently learning violin with Kristen. She absolutely LOVES violin, being drawn in particular to the unique sound this instrument produces.

Elodie is a creative student on all levels. She enjoys drawing and painting but has found a creative outlet in painting over playing cards, making them colorful and playful. Though she will read a chapter book if it is very very interesting, she prefers graphic novels due to the imaginative and fun illustrations. Not only does Elodie play violin, she also creates her own music using GarageBand. She has even been known to make up cute nicknames for musical terms to help her remember them. In short, Elodie is an innovator, learning skills and then applying them in her own unique ways.

Kristen is impressed with Elodie’s skill in picking up on this challenging instrument, particularly noting her work ethic and enthusiasm for learning. Kristen says, “She is clear about how/what she needs to learn, like asking for a schedule. Elodie has great energy and likes exploring different sounds on her instrument. I love being her instructor because she has a true passion for violin and she reminds me of when I first started learning.”

We can’t wait to watch Elodie’s musical journey continue to unfold!

Emery Gonzales

Emery Gonzales is a lover of the outdoors. Whether it’s playing soccer, skiing in Taos, or camping with her family, she is happiest when staying active in nature. She also loves art and, of course, her chihuahua named Taco. When it comes to music, Emery played the violin for five years but recently switched to piano lessons with Kat. She is loving piano and finds it to be fun and easy to learn.

In addition to piano lessons, Emery is halfway through her second semester of Band League, playing keys and backup vocals with her band J.O.L.E. She is a big fan of Band League because of how supportive all of the bands and instructors are of everyone involved. She loves being able to play an instrument in a group setting.

For Emery, music is a way to express herself. Regardless of the mood she is in, she can find a song that matches it. Listening to music in this way helps her to process her emotions. Kat has so much fun as Emery’s teacher because of the positive attitude Emery brings to every lesson. Kat says, “My favorite thing about Emery is her personality. She always shows up with such a positive attitude. She is improving really well and tackles new objectives with so much optimism and positivity, always wanting to learn more! She tries hard to correct her bad habits and has shown so much improvement.”

Keep smiling, Emery! We can’t wait to watch your progress.