About Laura Vandercar
Laura Vandercar has over 20 years of teaching experience. She taught at Palatine Music Center for 19 years and is now pleased to join The Music Room in Palatine. Her teaching style includes a blend of Suzuki and traditional methods.
Laura has always had a love for music. But, she has an utter joy for playing and teaching others the violin. She first learned how to play the violin through the Suzuki Method and fondly recalls her learning experiences as a child. Laura draws upon some of these early learning memories to better connect with young students. It also helps that Laura is the mother of five with ages ranging from 25 to 8 years old who taught her unlimited patience. Laura always enjoys the enthusiasm of all beginners, especially adults first learning to play. She also loves the middle and senior high school violinist who is frequently in need of technical instruction and lyrical coaching. She is highly skilled in observation and analysis and thereby is able to trouble shoot and correct technique using creative methods.
Laura’s playing experience includes performances for local churches, pit orchestras, weddings, music therapy in nursing facilities as well as other private events. Laura graduated cum laude from Illinois State University with a degree in Biology and holds a Master’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Exercise Science and Cardiac Rehab. She applies her knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and body mechanics to make playing the violin easier for all ages and skill levels.
Joshua Bell is a source of inspiration and a favorite violinist of Laura’s. She teaches a wide variety of musical styles, including classical, gypsy, Celtic, and country.
All students are unique in their learning style, and Laura continuously strives to meet each student’s needs to achieve their learning goals. Above all, she desires that each one of her students will experience great joy in playing their violin well.
First piece of music that had a profound effect on me: “Night on Bald Mountain.” I loved the intensity of it and its ability to create a powerful mental image.
Music teacher who inspired me the most: The late Bernard Eichen. He called me his Sherlock Holmes because of my love for science as well as music.
How I am making the world a better place: I counsel women and men in crisis pregnancies. I let them know about the financial, medical and emotional support available to them.
Favorite quote about music: “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” -Berthold Auerbach
