Amy Beshara

Amy Beshara is an in-demand fiddle player, violinist, violist, vocalist, and teaching artist.  Born in the New York City area, Amy’s earliest musical memory is of dancing to “The Monster Mash” on repeat with her Fisher Price record player.  Amy has spent her career exploring from many different angles how we learn music, and why it is important for us. Amy was self taught on piano from an early age, and began classical viola lessons at age 10.  Amy’s teacher passed on principles of Karen Tuttle’s co-ordination technique in viola from the very first lesson. In high school, Amy was awarded the Ellie Burg Memorial Award in Viola at Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division, and later went on to earn a Certificate in Viola Performance and Teaching from Trinity College of Music, London. Amy studied linguistics and language acquisition at Montclair State University which gave her a strong academic foundation for understanding the principles of the Suzuki method, and for understanding the importance and significance of folk music traditions around the world. Amy’s linguistics background informs her exploration of concepts in the growing field of music-neuroscience.  Amy has certifications and training in the Suzuki Method, Dalcroze Eurythmics, Music Together, the Paul Rolland Method, Mark O’Connor Method, and Louise Montello’s Performance Wellness method of dealing with stage fright and other performance related disorders. Amy is also a registered vinyasa and yin yoga teacher. Amy is a trauma-informed teacher, earning a certificate in Somatic Embodiment and Regulation Strategies with Linda Thai, and currently working on a Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies from the Trauma Research Foundation.

Amy has more than 20 years experience as a teacher in the New York City/North Jersey and Boston areas.  Amy has taught violin, viola, fiddle, cello, guitar, piano, ukulele, singing, songwriting, general music, and improvisation to students ages 2-72. In addition to running her private studio, Amy taught early childhood music at Lacordaire Academy in Montclair, and taught Suzuki violin and fiddle at the Montclair State University Extension Division. Amy has taught workshops in a variety of settings including Fiddle Hell Massachusetts, the NJ Suzuki Workshop, The NJ Folk Project Acoustic Getaway, the New York Caledonian Club, Powers Music School in Belmont, MA, the Saturday Morning Music School String Enrichment Program at Chenery Middle School in Belmont, MA, and the Conservatory at Highlands in Newton, MA. Amy is currently teaching in the North Jersey/New York City area and welcoming students in person and online via Zoom.

Amy is currently on the faculty at the Count Basie Theatre’s Monmouth Conservatory of Music in Red Bank, NJ,