Dorothy Shorter has been teaching at the Lawrence Eisman Center for Preparatory Studies in Music at Queens College since 1992. For the past 10 years she has served as coordinator for the string department. Ms. Shorter graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo. She has studied violin with world renowned violinist, Elmar Oliveira and with Regis Iandiorio,1st violinist of the Hampton String Quartet. In addition, Ms. Shorter received her certification in Suzuki pedagogy at the School for Strings in New York City, under the tutelage of Louise Behrend. Ms. Shorter has taught violin in the CW Post Suzuki program and was director of elementary strings at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, New York. Ms. Shorter is also on the faculty of the Music Institute of Long Island and Kellenberg Memorial High School. Ms. Shorter has extensive experience teaching. Many of her students have been selected to perform in Nassau and Suffolk County All- County Festivals, Suffolk and Nassau County Long Island String Festivals, and All-State Orchestras. In addition, many of Ms. Shorterʼs students have won competitions in Queens and Long Island.
Ms. Shorter performs in various chamber groups and orchestras on Long Island. She was concertmaster of the Calvary Baptist Church Orchestra in New York City. She currently performs with the St. Martin of Tours Orchestra in Amityville, St. Barnabus Church in Bellmore the Island Chamber Symphony, Plaza Productions Theater Orchestra, the Mineola Choral Society, the North Shore Summer Opera Music Festival Orchestra in Sandʼs Point, the Concert Festival orchestra and in the Town of Oyster Bay Holiday Show with the Concert Pops of Long Island at the Tilles Center. Ms. Shorter has performed with Marvin Hamlisch, Jimmy Webb, Kristin Chenoweth, Linda Eder and Michael Amante.
The main concern for parents should be to bring up their children as noble human beings. That is sufficient. If this is not their greatest hope, in the end the child may take a road contrary to their expectations. Children can play very well. We must try to make them splendid in mind and heart also.
Suzuki based his approach on the belief that “Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which 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.”