Karen Weckerly (associate) began violin studies at age 2 and holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, where she studied Suzuki pedagogy in a long-term teacher training format under Carol Smith, Vera McCoy-Sulentic, and John Kendall. She has been teaching Suzuki Violin since 1996 and has continuing education in Clap! Sing! & Read! as well as experience teaching early childhood music from the Suzuki-Orff School for Young Musicians in Chicago. Karen serves on the faculty of the Colorado Suzuki Institute, and performs with the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra. In her spare time Karen also practices Taekwondo and holds a 2nd degree black belt. She is a certified instructor with the World Taekwondo Federation.