Teaching Philosophy: "All students possess the inherent capacity to learn music. Music should serve as a transformative tool, empowering individuals from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds to explore their unique musical identities, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression. I take both an inclusive and expansive approach to music selection. I definitely want students to play music that appeals to them! I believe that it is also important to expand students' musical palettes by selecting repertoire that will challenge and empower them. It is FUN to learn new things and the sense of accomplishment when you succeed after taking on a challenge is so rewarding!"
Biography: Chris Brainard began studying the violin at the age of 8 years old in a public school music program in central Maine, with Laurie Kennedy, principal violist of the Portland Symphony. After six months in the program, she came home and announced that she wanted to be a violinist when she grew up. Chris is very pleased that she has, indeed, become a violinist as well as a violist, though she has consistently and persistently resisted growing up. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Boston University, where she studied violin with Yuri Mazurkevich, and received a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Connecticut. Chris teaches elementary and middle school strings in the Lexington Public Schools, where she’s been inspiring young musicians since 2010, and also conducts the Primo Orchestra in the Rivers Youth Orchestra program at the Rivers Conservatory in Weston. When she’s not teaching, Chris has a very active performance schedule - she serves as concertmaster of the Lincoln Sudbury Civic Orchestra and plays both violin and viola (though usually not at the same time) in symphony orchestras, musical theater/pit orchestras, and chamber groups across New England, and is an occasional member of the Occasional Brass & Strings.
Outside of music, Ms. Brainard is an avid hiker, backpacker, and cyclist - her biggest adventures include biking from Seattle to Washington DC, completing both the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, and she is making plans to eventually finish the Continental Divide Trail at some point in the future. She lives in Maynard with her husband Dave, and their potcake dog, Bella.
Chris began teaching in 1995 and joined Note-worthy Experiences in February 2024, where she teaches violin and viola lessons.
Learn more about our Violin and Viola teacher Chris Brainard in her Teacher Feature.
Biography: Chris Brainard began studying the violin at the age of 8 years old in a public school music program in central Maine, with Laurie Kennedy, principal violist of the Portland Symphony. After six months in the program, she came home and announced that she wanted to be a violinist when she grew up. Chris is very pleased that she has, indeed, become a violinist as well as a violist, though she has consistently and persistently resisted growing up. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Boston University, where she studied violin with Yuri Mazurkevich, and received a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Connecticut. Chris teaches elementary and middle school strings in the Lexington Public Schools, where she’s been inspiring young musicians since 2010, and also conducts the Primo Orchestra in the Rivers Youth Orchestra program at the Rivers Conservatory in Weston. When she’s not teaching, Chris has a very active performance schedule - she serves as concertmaster of the Lincoln Sudbury Civic Orchestra and plays both violin and viola (though usually not at the same time) in symphony orchestras, musical theater/pit orchestras, and chamber groups across New England, and is an occasional member of the Occasional Brass & Strings.
Outside of music, Ms. Brainard is an avid hiker, backpacker, and cyclist - her biggest adventures include biking from Seattle to Washington DC, completing both the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, and she is making plans to eventually finish the Continental Divide Trail at some point in the future. She lives in Maynard with her husband Dave, and their potcake dog, Bella.
Chris began teaching in 1995 and joined Note-worthy Experiences in February 2024, where she teaches violin and viola lessons.
Learn more about our Violin and Viola teacher Chris Brainard in her Teacher Feature.
