“Ms. Hays” began violin lessons at the age of seven in the University of Louisville’s then-fledgling Suzuki program. During her ‘tween and teen years, she studied with Carol Hughes, Virginia Schneider, Guido Lamell and David Updegraff. In addition to teacher training studies with Margery Aber, Lorraine Fink, Doris Preucil, Kay Collier Slone and Judy Bossuat-Gallic, Hays holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Child Study from Smith College and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Ball State University.
Teaching violin is a third career for Hays, having spent time as a classroom teacher at Louisville Collegiate School, and having served as a regional director for Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. Before moving to Dallas, she acted as coordinator for the Suzuki program at Southeast Missouri Music Academy in Cape Girardeau. She also taught at Headwaters School of Music and Art in Bemidji, Minnesota, and has served as clinician at workshops and institutes in Minnesota, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois and Singapore. Since 1968, the Suzuki philosophy has been an integral part of Hays’ life, first as a Suzuki student, and then as a Suzuki mom and teacher. She considers herself fortunate to have been on each side of the “Suzuki triangle,” and finds the collective experiences crucial to her teaching. Hays and her husband, Steve, have three children. When she’s not at work, you can usually find Hays on her bike or in the water. |