My Philosophy

I want my students to love music and find joy in creating and sharing music with others throughout their lives. I hope that it will be something that sparks their imagination as they create different sounds and tell stories through their music.  I hope to instill that enjoyment with each student. 

About Rene

• Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, Permanent Professional, MTNA

• Organist, Colleague Certified, American Guild of Organists

• Member of Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association (NVMTA)

• Member of Virginia Music Teachers Association (VMTA)

• Member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)

• Member of Virginia Federation of Music Clubs (VFMC)

• Leadership

  • 2022-2025 VMTA Recording Secretary

  • 2019-2020 NVMTA Nomination Committee Chair

  • 2018-2021 Webmaster for NVMTA, 2021-present regular contributor to NVMTA blog

  • 2018 Liason with Amadeus Orchestra to coordinate NVMTA Student Winners Performance of Concerto Competitions

  • 2013-2022 Led development of NVMTA's scheduling system (mtfest) from its inception, continues as a liaison for resolving technical issues, updating, and maintaining the site

  • 2017-2019 President of NVMTA, chair of committee to create new nvmta.org website

  • 2016 Member-at-Large for NVMTA Executive Board

  • 2013 Honored by NVMTA as "Most Valuable Member" for work on mtfest

  • 2008-2017 Theory Mastery Co-Chair for NVMTA

  • Prior to 2000 Achievement Awards Competition: Piano, Co-Chair

• Presentations

  • Teaching Music Theory in Fun Ways with Virtual Lessons

  • Rediscovered Intermediate Level Music by Albert Rozin (1907-1987)-Presented at VMTA State Conference 2024

  • Creating Camaraderie with Adult Students-to be presented at the National MTNA Conference 2025

• Publications:

  • 2005 "My Road to Certification" in American Music Teacher magazine. My experience of certifying with a non-traditional approach and encouraging other teachers to seek certification with MTNA.

  • October 2022 in The American Organist Magazine, “Potomac Organ Institute Models a Scholarship Program to Recruit Pianists”.

  • Spring 2024 Canadian Music Teacher’s Magazine, “Tapping into Curiosity, How Titles Can Ignite Learning”, Focus on repertoire of Albert Rozin (1907-1987)

  • Fall 2024, Virginia Music Teachers Association Newsletter, Pedagogy Corner, “Albert Rozin” p. 18-19, https://vmta-music.org/newsletter/

• Member of Production team for albertrozin.com website. 2022-2024, https://www.albertrozin.com/contributors

• MusicLink Teacher for over 10 years (www.musiclinkfoundation.org).

• Accompanist for instrumentalists, vocalists including Solo and Ensemble Festival

• Church choir accompanist from 1997-2018 and 2022-present

• Church children’s Music Leader 2019-2020

• Church organist 2000-present, SP Certification with AGO.

• B.S. in Medical Technology from Brigham Young University.

• In addition to music, her personal interests include backpacking (including DIY backpacking sewing projects), hiking, biking, travel, Spanish (conversational) and Chinese (beginning), science fairs, reading, and the activities of her four sons.