Donald Martin - Violin Instructor Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from the University of Rhode Island received in August 2011. "Music is a universal language that people have been speaking since the beginning of time. It evolves with us, and in some cases, vice versa. Our senses and our minds mature as we learn about music. For myself, everyday is a new musical adventure, and because there are not enough days in a lifetime to learn everything about music, I take advantage of today and now. I encourage my students to do the same." As a native of Easton, Donald Martin began playing violin since 1995 at age eight at the Music Machine. During college, he studied under Ann Danis. Donald was concertmaster of the URI Symphony Orchestra and also a member of the most prestigious chamber ensemble at the school, the Undergraduate Honors String Quartet, for two years. He is now an active member in the Rhode Island Philharmonic Community Orchestra (RIPCO) of Providence, and the South County Community Orchestra (SCCO) based in Narragansett, RI. Donald has also founded a performance group called Occasional Music with friend and fellow URI Graduate, Allison LaCasse. Together and with other members, they have played many weddings and events around New England from Berlin, NH to Newport, RI. He has been classically trained but has become interested in bluegrass fiddling and avant-garde styles. Donald has also begun to delve into a variety of methods in improvisation. The most important thing to him in music education is a strong foundation. Once a student achieves that, only then are they able to build anything they want on top of it. Donald is available to teach in Mansfield and Easton (call for specific availability) His rate is $130/month for 30 minute private lessons