University of Windsor Lab School: Strings

oma in Violin Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she studied violin with Mimi Zweig, Kathleen Winkler, Baroque violin with Stanley Ritchie, and string pedagogy with Mimi Zweig and Dr. Brenda Brenner. Vanessa’s passion for teaching was sparked at Indiana University where she was appointed as an Associate Instructor with the Indiana University String Academy from 2005-2008. As a performer, pedagogue, and scholar, Vanessa is passionate about teacher training and string education research. She was awarded a prestigious national Doctoral Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for her doctoral research, where she investigated the remedial strategies of postsecondary violin instructors. She has presented her research at provincial and international conferences (including the International Society for Music Education, the American String Teachers’ Association, the Indiana Music Education Association, the Ontario Music Educators’ Association, and the Canadian Society for the Study of Education). Vanessa has recently published articles in the Canadian Music Educator Journal, American String Teacher Journal, The Recorder (Quarterly Journal of the Ontario Music Educators’ Association), International Journal of Music Education, and Update: Applications of Research in Music Education. Through her current research interests, Vanessa hopes to contribute significantly to the field of string pedagogy as the scope of her research expands. Informed by her research and teaching activities, Vanessa developed the first string pedagogy course offered to music performance and education majors in Canada at both Western University (graduate and undergraduate) and Wilfrid Laurier University (undergraduate), and developed a new violin/viola group string instruction course for undergraduate music education students at Western. Most recently, she developed new course offerings for the University of Windsor Faculty of Education and Continuing Education Department. Vanessa has also recently developed three innovative Instrumental (Strings) Additional Qualification courses (approved by the Ontario College of Teachers) for elementary and secondary music educators across Ontario. Vanessa has pursued a variety of professional development opportunities and has become a sought-after clinician, teacher, and adjudicator. Vanessa is a String Examiner for The Royal Conservatory of Music, College of Examiners, and has traveled extensively throughout North America as an Ambassador for the Certificate Program. She has also adjudicated many festivals across Canada, including the upper string division of the Ontario Music Festivals Association Provincial Competition in May of 2017. Vanessa has taught at the Nova Scotia Suzuki Violin Institute in Halifax, NS, attended the Starling-DeLay Symposium for Violin Studies at The Juilliard School, participated in a workshop led by Brian Lewis at the Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute, and attended a Retreat for Violin and Viola Teachers at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Vanessa has spent summers touring with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada; participating in the Casalmaggiore International Festival in Italy; teaching in Tuscany for a Professional Teachers Workshop alongside Mimi Zweig; and studying at the Banff Centre for the Arts with the Très Chic Piano Trio (Chamber Music Residency for Pre-Formed Ensembles). Vanessa is a violinist in the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and has also recently performed with the Penderecki String Quartet and the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra. Student/Parent Testimonials:

"My 9 year old son has been taking violin lessons with Dr. Mio at WSA for about 2 years now and he’s had a wonderful experience. She not only teaches the techniques meticulously but also focuses on developing my son’s musicality along the way, and encourages him to express the pieces beautifully. Her natural ability to connect with her students is outstanding. I believe that the curriculum is critical, but the teachers and their teaching methods are equally important as they are on the front line and need to keep students especially young ones interested. Despite not being able to teach in person during lockdown, Dr. Mio managed to continue smoothly with lessons. My son advanced quickly under her supervision. He wrote RCM grade 5 violin exam recently and is getting ready to start Grade 6. We feel very fortunate to have Dr. Mio set our son on the right track of music enrichment." ~Naaman (parent)

"As a parent, as well as professional musician, I simply have to say Vanessa is the best!. Patient, kind, knowledgable, engaging and fun, Vanessa understands exactly how to connect with my son, engage his interests, offer gentle corrections and build up his confidence. She has so many great tricks to help get little ones started, and as a performing violinist and RCM examiner herself, Vanessa brings a wealth of professional experience to even the most advanced students. My 6-year-old loves playing his violin at home, and looks forward to each lesson. As I said, Vanessa is simply the best." ~Mike (parent)

“I’ve been taking violin with Vanessa for almost 3 years now, and I can confirm that my experiences with her have been all positive! Despite starting at a later age then most students, her teaching methods are very effective and I caught on really fast. She is also very flexible with her schedule so we were able to move things around easily if I had any conflicts with school and work. Overall, I plan on sticking with her as long as I can in order to solidify my skills with this amazing instrument!” ~Carolyn (student)