Teacher Profile: Abigail Goodman

About Abigail Goodman

Born in Melbourne, Florida, Abby Goodman started playing violin at age seven. She studied under National Orchestra Festival Grand Champion Director Erik Bryan. Under his instruction, she placed first chair in Brevard All County Middle and High School Orchestra, was accepted into the Florida All State Orchestra, and was the first place winner of Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra’s 2019 Concerto Competition. She participated in youth orchestra, played in an Irish session band at Meg o’ Mallie’s in Downtown Melbourne, and volunteered at Holmes Regional Medical Center with nationwide volunteer organization MusicMds.

Abby is currently a student at the University of Central Florida studying music education, and violin performance under the instruction of Dr. Ross Winter. She has been the co-director of the Etude ensemble for A Gift For Music and has been a freelance music teacher since August 2019. She was the former fiddle teacher at UCF for the string education students and is trained in many styles including classical violin, old time fiddle, and Irish fiddle.

Abby uses a variety of repertoire and methods to help students have a rounded music education, including Bärenreiter Sassmannshaus, Suzuki, and folk songs taught by rote for ear training. She understands the importance of parental involvement when a student is learning an instrument and encourages parents to be present for lessons.

Aside from a fiery passion for music and teaching, Abby enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Coming from a family of six children, she enjoys working with kids and finds it easy to relate to young people. Having common ground and hearing about her students’ interests is as important to her as her wish for them to succeed at violin.