Member Directory

Ms. LaDonna C. Smith

Violin, Piano Teacher SAA Member

From Birmingham, LaDonna Smith is Director of Birmingham Suzuki Violinists, and currently teaches violin and group lessons to over 45 students. She is also a wonderful pianist, and some of her violin students also study the piano as well. In 1998, she and 24 of her students went to Japan for concerts in Hitachi, Nagano, and the National Suzuki Concert in Tokyo. In 2000, she was part of the National Delegation of String Teachers exchange to China. She has been on the faculty of Central Pennsylvania Suzuki Institute for ten years, teaching violin, viola, jazz, and improvisation. Last year, she was guest artist and lecturer at Brigham Young University. Highly eclectic, she enjoys teaching a solid Suzuki foundation & it’s classical music repertoire, augmented by American folk music (The Mark O Connor Method), along with music from other cultures, (from Ireland to Japan, China, Mexico), improvisation, jazz, fiddle and alternative styles. She thrives on helping a student tap their inner potential, and developing diverse interests within the student.

“For me, the Suzuki Method presents a beautiful example of extended family, and I keep up with all my students & families well beyond their tenure in my studio!”

Active in SAA, MENC and ASTA, she has presented “Comprovisation, improvisational and alternative string techniques” at various American String Teachers Association national conventions.

Considered a pioneer of free improvisation in America, she is a Board member of I.S.I.M. International Society of Improvised Music. Since 1974 has passionately sought to raise the art of improvisation to the level of classic composition. As a solo artist, she has toured USA, Canada, Europe, including Russia and Siberia, China and Japan. Her music is documented on dozens of CD and LP recordings. She is editor and producer of the improvisor, the international journal of free improvisation www.the-improvisor.com

See also www.birminghamsuzukiviolinists.org