Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Watson Ray.
Hi Tiffany Watson, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and grew up in Woodstock, Georgia. I first started taking violin lessons at the age of 8. I was inspired by my older sister who started violin lessons the year before I did. My love for music and performing grew as I played and eventually the violin became who I was. At a very young age, I knew I was going to pursue music as a career.
My sister and I were part of a string quartet growing up. We had our first paying gig when I was 12 years old! I could not believe I received payment in order to play music for a wedding rehearsal dinner. It was so fun and inspiring! I was hooked!
I am very thankful to my parents for pouring time and money into my dream. They encouraged me along the way, they supported me, and always let me know I could be a successful violinist. They invested into my private lessons and instruments. I’ll never forget their encouragement and support as I went through the grueling process of college auditions. I knew no matter what happened they were proud of me, and that is what kept me going. I graduated from the University of North Texas with my bachelor’s degree in music performance. After college, I moved back to Georgia and started teaching private lessons and continued to be a freelance musician in the Atlanta area.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate enough to perform in many places and for many people over the years. Violin has given me many opportunities. Some of the highlights of my career include playing on stage with Michael Buble, and Rod Stewart. One 4th of July I was lucky enough to join a country artist on fiddle and perform for the American Troops in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I have also played several years with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra during their Christmas tours. At a large church conference in Atlanta, I can still remember the sound of the 20,000 person crowd cheering as our group walked out on stage. It’s a feeling I’ll never forget. Violin has truly taken me to places I would have never been without it!
Fast forward to today, I now own and run two small businesses. Elite Strings and Woodstock Strings.
Elite Strings is a business I jumped into with a close friend and colleague of mine. Elite Strings is a wedding and event business where we provide string music for special occasions. My business partner and I have been Atlanta freelance musicians for over 30 years combined. We have built a great rapport with local coordinators and also have wonderful working relationships with many many Atlanta musicians. We strive to provide elite professionalism and musicianship at every event we perform.
Woodstock Strings is my own private lesson string school. At Woodstock Strings, I offer private lessons on violin, viola, and cello. I have teachers who specialize in their field and have extensive training on their instruments, I also now have two kiddos of my own! They both play as well. My son, 11 years old, plays viola, and my daughter, three years old, plays the violin. My husband is also a musician (guitarist and singer) and loves to be involved with my string school.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say one of the biggest challenges I have faced has been learning to play the violin. period. Violin is not an easy instrument. It takes extreme hard work and dedication. There have been many hangouts and outings with friends that I missed along the way in order to stay home and practice. There have been many moments of waking up before everyone else in the house to practice before school. This instrument takes perseverance, unwavering dedication, and grit. There have been so many times when I have been practicing and thought “I am never going to get this”. Then one day, maybe a week later, maybe a month later, I finally get it! It is hard work but also very rewarding. I love playing, I love the sound of the violin. And I can truly say I have been on so many stages, and at so many events, and met so many interesting and cool people because of violin.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our goal for Woodstock Strings is to inspire, encourage, and lift our students up each week when we see them. Young students have so much going on in the world to worry about, and we like to bring light and positivity to each student’s lives at least once in their week! When I hire my teachers I let them know this is our goal. The stringed instrument is very hard to master and play. We get to see students work hard and meet their goals and be their personal cheerleaders along the way.
Woodstock Strings also has public concerts for the students to perform at each semester. I like to get the students out in the community to perform as much as I can. Woodstock has so many great venues that make this possible for our group. The students LOVE performing and the families love to invite relatives and friends to every concert. This is so much a part of our Woodstock Strings culture. These concerts inspire students to work hard and be able to perform well at each one.
Our school primarily uses the Suzuki method. This is the method I started on as a young child. This method teaches the students to play by ear while focusing extensively on technique and sound. Since the instrument is difficult to play, this method helps the new student get a beautiful sound and achieve satisfaction on the instrument early on. We do also cater to those students who come to us and already know how to read music. We employ the Suzuki way of having songs memorized but also let the students work on reading music as well. I have seen huge success in all ages with this method. We accept all aged students and we will start lessons as early as four years old.
Any big plans?
I would love for Woodstock Strings to be a household name here in our wonderful city of Woodstock. I want the average person walking by to see a flyer for an upcoming concert and be excited to come watch our group perform! The students work so hard, I feel like they deserve to get that same experience I got when standing on stage in front of a big crowd. You never forget that excitement you feel when people are cheering you on!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.woodstockstrings.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodstockstrings/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Woodstock-Strings-106934150918657
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbnwgHT5Hh46mjMnNlsDe-A
Image Credits
Brenda Upton Photography (main photo and 1st and last photo in lineup) Michelle Marie Photography (2nd photo in lineup)
