OUR TEACHERS

At Suzuki Atlanta we have a small, dedicated team of Suzuki-certified teachers. We love instructing and inspiring our students, and we do it with passion.

Carol Stokes

A passionate lifelong educator, Carol Stokes founded the Suzuki Atlanta in 1981. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and a Master of Music with specialization in the Suzuki Method from the University of Tennessee, where she studied with William Starr, a founder of the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She studied with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki in Matsumoto, Japan, the birthplace of the Suzuki Method. Carol has performed in a wide variety of ensembles, from symphony orchestras to bluegrass bands. She released a bluegrass album, Carol’s Fiddling Favorites,and performed in a Public Television Special, Just Fiddling Around, which was nominated for a local Emmy Award. It is inspiring to watch Carol relate to her young students. She teaches in a style all her own, while drawing from the inspiration of Suzuki and Starr.

Carol’s classes are structured but very fun, and it isn’t uncommon to see children spinning around or lying on the floor while playing the violin. Carol’s effectiveness as a violin teacher is evident in the speed at which her students progress and the joy with which they do so. Carol’s former students include professional symphony members, violin teachers with their own studios, and current Suzuki parents. Carol is the mother of four children, Heather, Brittany, McNeill, and Tinsley, all of whom were Suzuki students. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and three dogs.

Martha Yasuda

In the world of Martha Yasuda, passion, quality, perseverance and hard work all go hand-in-hand. Residing in Atlanta, GA, where she is a Suzuki violin teacher and arranger, she has written close to 80 different books, including arrangements for the favorite 3 Mozart violin concerti #3, #4 and #5.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Martha began arranging music in 2002, sharing many of her arrangements with students of all different levels of advancement.

When not teaching or arranging music, Martha enjoys being a grandmother of five and also enjoys spending time with her miniature schnauzer, April May.