ABOUT PFUZZ
PFuzz, aka Alexis, is a classically trained violinist, violin instructor, producer, and DJ. She enjoys merging her background in classical music with her love for psychedelic bass music, glitch, sound design, and melodies interspersed with unexpected ear candy. She performs both locally and as an occasional multi-genre touring musician. When PFuzz is not running the streets of Salt Lake and setting it ablaze with her colorful spunk and sass, she can be found reading “children’s” books to stuffed animals, adding multi-dimensional colors to her hair as a form of both expression and procrastination, and cooking up her Le Cordon Bleu specialty, boiling water. You may also find her trolling your local pretentiously overpriced grocery store for the organic version of something she has no business eating, or trying to find her soulmate in the produce aisle by petting vegetables and making awkward eye contact…as one does.
BUT SERIOUSLY THOUGH…
Alexis is a violinist, composer, music producer, and DJ, who began her violin studies as a child, allegedly after seeing Itzhak Perlman on Sesame Street. She began studying at the Cleveland Institute of music beginning with dalcroze to instill a sense of rhythm and movement, and began playing violin at age 5. She studied the Suzuki method with Marta Soderberg, James Gomez and Michelle Higa-George. At age 10, She spent four consecutive eight week summers as a merit scholarship recipient at Interlochen Arts Camp prior to performing with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus and Youth Orchestra. She studied with Mari Sato of the Cavani String Quartet and both Kim Gomez and Takako Masame of the Cleveland Orchestra.
She then went on to attend high school at the fine arts boarding school, Interlochen Arts Academy, where she was also a merit scholarship recipient, and studied with the world renowned Russian violinist, Julia Bushkova. For her undergraduate matriculation, Alexis attended Miami University to receive a liberal arts education, and also broadened her studies to include a focus in music performance, composition, educational leadership, and microbiology. There, she furthered her violin studies with Interlochen Arts Academy alumna, Emma Rubinstein and Dr. Harvey Thurmer. Following her Bachelor’s degree, she went on to pursue graduate studies at Berklee College of Music where she studied with Boston Pops violinist, Sandra Kott and studied music synthesis and composition. It was in Boston that Alexis discovered her love for being a studio musician and performing video game music. She performed frequently with the Video Game Orchestra, played her own arrangements and compositions with jazz saxophonist Gregg Osby, and actively performed with a Brazilian Jazz quartet. She also furthered her compositional development by learning electronic music production with the DAW Ableton Live, and now is an Ableton User Group organizer in Salt Lake city, UT. With Ableton, she creates electronic dance and symphonic bass music. Her love of electronic music is what fueled her to learn how to DJ, a lifelong ambition that became fully realized.
For the past 15 years, Alexis has been teaching violin and music theory both privately and in group settings in Boston, Salt Lake, and the Bay Area. In 2013, her teaching abilities brought her to Salt Lake City Utah, where she helped pilot an El Sistema program for children of underserved populations to learn music, and music theory. Alexis also added yoga teaching certifications to her list of instructional credentials, as she felt it necessary to understand how bodies hold stress in order to aid students in proper posture and relaxation techniques.
Alexis is enthusiastic, nurturing, and encouraging in her instruction. She believes that by giving students the proper tools and guidance, they have the capabilities to solve musical puzzles for themselves, enabling them to be more self-reliant. She believes firmly in establishing a positive relationship with the violin first and foremost, which includes proper instrument and self care, posture, bow hold, and left hand technique. Though she often uses the Suzuki repertoire for students, she believes that students should be able to read music very early so they are equipped to handle sight reading. Alexis encourages preparing students for a variety of performance opportunities such as recitals, orchestra solos, and local/national competitions. She also seamlessly integrates ear training and music theory into lessons so that students can attach these concepts to their instrument, making the information more relatable. Most of all, Alexis believes that instilling a love of music that lasts a lifetime, and providing a well rounded musical education with real life applications is the best gift she can provide.
In addition to her years of teaching experience, Alexis is most notable for her solo violin act accompanied by a produced electronic Ableton set for a wide variety of events, ranging in ambiance. She enjoys DJing and performing high energy symphonic bass music sets to give the crowd a unique and memorable experience.