About Ruthie
Ruthie is a native of Lilburn Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. She began playing piano by ear as a young child and took formal piano lessons from age 9 through high school. She is a Cum Laud graduate of Southeastern University, Lakeland Florida, with a B.A. in Music Education K-12 (Major instrument- piano) and has 13 years experience teaching music in Georgia’s public schools. Ruthie was awarded the New Teacher of Year Sallie Mae nomination for DeKalb County and Teacher of the Year at Camp Creek Elementary in Gwinnett County. She composed music for school events, directed musicals, wrote scripts, organized talent shows, managed schoolwide after school enrichment programs and choreographed show choirs. Ruthie is experienced in utilizing effective teaching strategies for regular education, gifted and special needs students as well as teens and adults.
She believes in the importance of making music fun and loves to laugh with students each week. Stuffed animals, music computer games, rhythm instruments and stickers are often part of her lessons. Getting to know each student’s family, hear about soccer games and see pictures of beloved pets are weekly events. Her first questions at the start of each lesson are not music related but geared towards finding out the important events in her student’s life and guaging how the student feels on that day. Without knowledge and sensitivity to a student’s energy level and emotional state a lesson cannot be fruitful or enjoyable for the student. Ruthie believes that helping each student grow their musical talents in a fun and positive environment is crucial and she strives achieve this goal during every lesson.