Our Team
The North Florida Suzuki School is the only music school in the Big Bend region that offers music lessons with Suzuki-trained faculty!
Meet Our Faculty
Guitar Director and Instructor
Dr. Ben Lougheed
I started my musical journey as a Suzuki student when I was five years old, and I am well acquainted with the joys, discoveries, and excitement of learning and playing an instrument. I knew I wanted to share my positive musical experiences with students, so I began taking Suzuki Teaching Courses. I am now the only guitarist in North America who has completed all nine Suzuki book trainings and a doctorate.
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My teaching approach focuses on training not only classical guitar technique and musicianship but self-efficacy and a growth mindset. Through the guitar, children learn how to become problem solvers and develop their voices. Working with students as young as 3, children learn along with their parents. While more intensive than other lessons, the benefits to the child, the parent, and their relationship are evident and long-lasting.
While Suzuki is an excellent method for teaching music, its greatest strength is its humanist aspect, training not just good musicians but good people. Towards this goal, students and parents learn transferable skills in all areas of life. One of the most important of these is to celebrate small accomplishments. Learning an instrument is a long journey, so I ensure we recognize and applaud the little victories as we go along. This creates a positive learning environment and motivates the student, improving their confidence and helping them learn to enjoy the learning process rather than just the result.
In addition to my Suzuki studio, I have worked with advanced students at the Leon High School Lessons Academy and with college musicians at Florida State University and Pensacola State College.
My instruction also focuses on welcoming students into a community of music through semesterly recitals, supplemental group classes, and community performances. My students have been selected for the All-State and All-National Guitar ensembles, have received perfect scores at Solo and Ensemble, have advanced through the Suzuki books, and have won numerous prizes in competitions, including the Florida Guitar Festival and the Latina Arts Guitar Festival. Perhaps most importantly, though, they have become wonderful, hard-working individuals with a true love of music, guitar, and learning.
Executive Director/Violin Instructor
Natasha Marsalli
I began my musical training as a Suzuki violin student at the age of three in rural Illinois. Although both of my parents are math teachers, music was always prevalent in our home environment; I am the oldest of four children, all of whom did Suzuki violin lessons from Pre-K through high school. My love for orchestral playing in high school led me to pursue a degree in violin performance and music education. I completed both degrees at Florida State University and have remained an active performer and educator in the Big Bend Region ever since. Currently, I am registered in Suzuki books 1-4 and have trained with Edward Kreitman, Kimberly Meier-Sims, and James Hutchins. I am now a parent to a four-year-old daughter and am privileged to have experienced all three roles of the Suzuki triangle!
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My primary goals for my students focus on developing skills that will serve them regardless of their path after high school. Typical challenges we address in violin lessons are breaking down large goals into small achievable steps, time management for both short-term and long-term projects, and navigating performance anxiety and preparation. Our weekly studio classes focus on interpersonal and ensemble skills within a nurturing and non-competitive environment, leading and following, blending and matching, and creating a supportive musical community that works and grows together. My students routinely hold leadership positions in their school and youth orchestras, receive the highest rankings in the annual North Florida Strings Festival and Solo and Ensemble competitions, and attend top-ranked summer music festivals, including Eastern Music Festival, Florida State Music Camps, and the Indo-European Chamber Orchestra. While some of my students have gone on to careers in teaching or performing music, my hope for all of my students is that they develop into confident young adults who possess the skills to navigate whatever challenges they encounter.
Violin Instructor
Erika Sciascia
I am a professional violinist and teacher with over 20 years of experience studying the violin. I have ample teaching experience earned through the Florida State University Music Education Department and as a teacher with Music Lessons Express and Wyzant. I have played with several professional orchestras, such as the Pensacola Symphony, Valdosta Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Panama City Symphony, and many other types of gigs. I was recently appointed Concertmaster of the Panama City Symphony for the 23-24 season.
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I hold a Bachelor of Music Performance from FSU and a MAS in Musical Performance and Interpretation from the Conservatory of Italian Switzerland. I also have a Master's in Violin Performance from Florida State University, where I was a graduate assistant to Dr. Benjamin Sung.
My teaching philosophy is based on finding maximum comfort with the violin and adjusting the technique to suit every person's unique body and needs. I believe students of any age can start and achieve excellent proficiency on the violin and deserve an attentive and thoughtful teacher. My goal is to foster a life-long love of music in my students through positive experiences and engaging lessons.
I recently completed my Suzuki Book One certification and have taken several Violin and Viola Pedagogy courses at FSU covering the teaching methods of Mimi Zweig, Paul Rolland, and more. I am a passionate and engaging teacher and love helping others discover their potential. I will tailor my approach based on your goals and am happy to accommodate any special requests.
Violin and Viola Instructor
Hunter Sanchez
I began my journey learning orchestral string instruments starting on violin in the 5th grade and later adding viola as a sophomore in high school. Although I was not directly a Suzuki method student, the Suzuki books were a large part of my private lesson education, as the books have a repertoire and layering of skills that are great to teach with any method.
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Learning a string instrument is a long process that requires a high level of dedication and time. My teaching approach focuses on slowly rooting the student’s technique with a foundation that will allow them to grow into well-rounded players in the future. Although, at times, it can seem as if a student is not progressing fast enough at first, I strongly believe in quality over quantity and celebrating the mastery of each small skill that the student learns. While learning violin or viola, students will learn skills that will help them in music and all areas of their life.
Outside of teaching in the Suzuki studio, I am also a doctoral graduate assistant in the viola studio at FSU and regularly perform in orchestras all over Florida and Georgia.
