Teacher Profile: Heather Marsico

About Heather Marsico

Heather Marsico is a Viola and Violin teacher from West Virginia University where she majored in Music. There, she studied viola under Andrea Priester Houde and her educational background has been focused on solo and chamber performance.

Originally from Maryland, Heather began learning the viola at the age of 5. Being too young to start orchestra in the school system, she began with private lessons. Heather has been able to study privately with many incredible violists. She strives to have the same positive, encouraging influence on her students as she has experienced with her own teachers.

Prior to college, she was lucky to have the opportunity to study at the Peabody Pre-Conservatory as a part of the Performance Academy for Strings in Baltimore and the Junior Royal Academy of Music in London. She also was able to attend and learn from summer festivals including the Brevard Music Center Summer Festival.

Heather’s love of music only grew through her experiences giving back to the community. She played viola in church with her sister and mother, where she first grew to love chamber music. Later, with her string quartet at college, she taught workshops at local schools in Morgantown to help the students there learn new tools in their music making.

Heather added violin to her musical training in middle school, playing in church and various small ensembles. She also to played violin in high school orchestras and continues with it in opportunities outside of her primary education. Additionally, Heather expanded her knowledge of violin teaching through classes on upper string pedagogy.

Heather has an interest in a wide range of musical areas, though her main focus is classical and contemporary. She believes that trying all styles can teach you something and trying different things can only enhance your learning. Finally, she believes that the pursuit of learning music should be both fun and challenging.