Becca’s love of music began at a young age. She started piano at four, added classical violin at nine, and throughout middle and high school years, continued private lessons while teaching herself guitar.

 

Her curiosity had grown beyond the practice room and into songwriting, where she and her friends experimented with rock and pop music. They formed a band called General Sherman and played local coffee shops, recorded an EP and two full albums, and even went on a 10‑day tour.

 

Alongside her band experience, Becca was accepted into the Des Moines Youth Symphony at a young age, giving her an early introduction to orchestral playing. She began in the back of the second violin section and, through consistent practice and dedication, worked her way to the top of the first violins by her senior year.

 

After high school, Becca received a music scholarship to Iowa State University. While there, she thrived in both performance and academics—serving as principal violinist and leading a large violin section in the ISU Symphony, ranking in the top two out of 300 music majors for her strong aural skills, and teaching private violin lessons to fellow college students.Surrounded by so much musical inspiration, Becca dove headfirst into learning. She became especially interested in composition and spent several years studying privately with composition professors, learning how to write melodies for different instrument families and apply music theory to the page. Wanting a broader musical perspective, she also took private percussion and cello lessons.

 

Outside the classroom, Becca continued writing songs at the piano and became the lead singer of a piano‑driven pop band that gained a strong following on campus. The band played frequent shows, highlighted by a sold-out performance sharing the stage with St. Vincent at ISU’s iconic Maintenance Shop.

 

As her skills continued to grow, Becca was invited to join Iowa State’s top string quartet. This ensemble was often requested for professional and corporate events, including performances at the University President’s home. Working closely in a small ensemble helped shape her musicianship and reinforced the importance of teamwork and listening.After graduating from ISU in 2009, Becca decided to focus on teaching violin and string instruments.

 

She joined the Suzuki Association of the Americas and attended numerous teacher‑training camps to become certified and knowledgeable across multiple levels of the method. With this foundation, she confidently launched her career as a professional string instructor.Throughout her journey, Becca continued balancing classical music with rock and pop. Moving between these worlds challenged her ear, her technique, and her attention to detail—and those challenges strongly influence how she teaches today.In 2010, Becca was invited to join Iowa’s beloved folk‑rock band, The Nadas. During her time with the band, she recorded and co‑wrote two albums and toured extensively, including traveling on Meat Loaf’s tour bus (complete with triple bunk beds and nightly Mario Kart competitions). The band often held week‑long residencies at venues like Colorado’s Little Bear Saloon and went on a cross‑country tour to promote their album Almanac, performing in cities such as New York and San Francisco and at rooftop shows during SXSW in Austin.In 2011, Becca opened for The Beach Boys with The Nadas. In 2018, she was inducted into the Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the band.

 

She was also part of the band Parlours, whose song “I Dream of Chicago” was featured in the series finale of Fox’s Chicago TV series.

 

While attending the National Alliance for Folk Musicians conference in Memphis with The Nadas, Becca met singer‑songwriter Stephen Simmons. The two stayed in touch and later teamed up for a duo tour across Europe. Traveling city to city with guitar and violin in hand, they navigated subways and sound checks while sharing music with audiences in places like Belgium and London—an experience Becca describes as unforgettable.

 

During her time living in Colorado, Becca immersed herself in the local music scene, connected with fellow musicians (including members of The Lumineers), and joined a band that played a sold‑out show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. At the same time, she continued expanding her teaching work, conducting high‑school string quartets and building a private studio of 40 students.

 

Over the years, Becca has built an extensive studio portfolio, contributing to over 100 tracks across more than 40 albums. Her work spans professional piano compositions, lead vocals, fiddle tunes, and string arrangements. She has taught over 100 students, many of whom have gone on to play in select orchestras, major or minor in music, or pursue music professionally.Becca’s classical training, combined with her experience as a performer, songwriter, and collaborator, gives her a well‑rounded and flexible approach to teaching. She tailors each lesson to the individual student’s goals and interests, blending ear training, pitch, rhythm, scales, lesson books, and favorite music styles.

 

Today, she also writes string arrangements for local artists, performs using a loop‑pedal system, and provides music for weddings and corporate events.