Karen Oosterbaan is an AmSAT certified Alexander Technique Teacher and a professional violinist in the Boston area. She completed her Master of Music degree in violin performance at the New England Conservatory with honors, her Graduate Diploma in Violin Performance at Longy School of Music with distinction, and her Bachelor of Music, summa cum laude, from Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. She has studied with Janet Packer, James Buswell IV, Cornelia Heard, Dana Maiben, and Paul Kantor. She completed her three year Alexander Technique Teacher Training at the Dimon School in Somerville, Massachusetts where she studied with Ted Dimon.
Ms. Oosterbaan has given a series of workshops and classes on the Alexander Technique for musicians at the New England Conservatory, Longy School of Music, Minnesota String Teacher's Association, Vanderbilt University, Cambridge Center for Adult Education and Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra Program. She has a private Alexander studio for students with a variety of backgrounds. This past year she created a research project to observe the effects of the Alexander Technique on violin playing and performing at the Longy School of Music. She worked with a group of violinists to observe the impact of the Alexander Technique on their body balance, sound production, bowing, shifting, and rhythm.
As a professional violinist, she frequently performs with the Orchestra of Emmanuel Music, Cantata Singers, and National Lyric Opera. She is a member of the "Harvey Diamond Jazz Quintet." In addition, she has participated in a wide variety of music festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival, New Hampshire Music Festival, and the Cours International de Musique, in Switzerland. She teaches violin and coaches chamber music at the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra program and Winchester Community Music School, where she is the Chamber Music Coordinator.
