Dr. Courtney Bell is a passionate string specialist and a trained instructor of the Suzuki and Bornoff Methods for teaching string instruments. Courtney began her teaching experience by honing her skill as a performer. Cello Performance degrees earned include a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance at Stetson University (2012), a Master of Music in Cello Performance from the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford (2014), and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota (2017). Throughout her education as a musician, Courtney consistently worked towards building her skill as a teacher with a specific dedication to the work of starting beginners of all-ages. She believes the most critical juncture of her teaching journey began when she chose to start her training as a Suzuki cello instructor in 2017. Courtney has since completed multiple levels of Suzuki cello, violin, bass, and Suzuki in the Schools teacher trainings. Courtney is passionate in her belief that, as Dr. Suzuki is quoted to have said, “where love is deep, much can be accomplished”. She is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Minnesota and has served the organization as it’s graduation recital trophy coordinator since 2018. Seeing a need to diversify her pedagogical knowledge Courtney also chose to pursue instruction in the Bornoff Method of String Pedagogy through teacher workshops sponsored by the Foundation for the Advancement of String Education. In alignment with her commitment to beginners and desire to reach as many young people as possible, she ultimately chose to return to the University of Minnesota for a post-baccalaureate certificate in K-12 instrumental music education. Today Courtney holds teaching licenses in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Her current full-time position is director of orchestras at DeLong and South Middle Schools for the Eau Claire Area School District. Recently, she has also branched out into college instruction with adjunct positions at Saint Cloud State University (MN) and the University of Wisconsin- River Falls (WI) teaching cello and string methods courses.