Meet The Teacher
“Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability that can be developed. Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited."
Dr. Shin'ichi Suzuki
Mrs. Tamara Gierum
Registered Suzuki Violin & Viola Instructor
Tamara Gierum is a violinist and bi-linguial music educator who has extensive training and expertise in early childhood violin pedagogy. Mrs. Gierum has the unique ability to blend her professional Suzuki background and training with her formal pedagogical experience as a K-12 educator. Mrs. Gierum operates FoCo Suzuki Strings in Forsyth County, GA, teaching students in person or, if needed, virtually via Zoom. As a dedicated teacher, she has helped nurture and empower her students’ musical understanding, expression, and artistic growth in both private and group instruction, welcoming children of all ages, races, genders, and abilities for over 15 years. Mrs. Gierum is an active member of the Suzuki Association of America (SAA), serves as the DEIA rep board member and translator for the Suzuki Association of GA (SAGA), a member of El Sistema and American String Teachers Association.
Mrs. Gierum cherishes her ability to pass on the legacies from her own teachers while also incorporating her classroom teaching experience and her passion for music so that her students can reach success.
Additionally, as a Suzuki parent of both a violin and two cello players, her understanding of musical children and their developmental process is extensive.
Formally trained in violin performance, Mrs. Gierum has made the violin a part of her life since she was 8 years old, gaining four years of experience in the Gemini Youth Symphony under the direction and mentorship of Maestro Stephen Radcliffe and performing with GYO at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. Her additional orchestral and performance experience includes performing as a violinist with the Sound Symphony, Massapequa Philharmonic, and the High Rise String Trio. Never losing sight of her love for music or the learning process, she advanced her studies receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Romance Languages. She moved on to obtain a Master of Education in K-12. During her advanced Suzuki teacher training, she studied under Richmond Symphony violinist, Ashley Odom.
The Suzuki method of teaching violin became of great interest to Mrs. Gierum since it parallels the same philosophy and teaching practice as language acquisition.
Learning a musical language requires the same approach as learning a native language. Thus, her teaching degrees and musical background combined with her proficient abilities to both speak and teach in English and Spanish led her to become a Suzuki teacher. Mrs. Gierum sought out and received further Suzuki teacher training at Atlanta Suzuki Institute at The University of Georgia learning from top trainers in the field who studied with Dr. Suzuki themselves.
