As the first musician in her family for generations, Kinsey Overdeer’s musical career began at a young age and seemingly out of the blue. When asked, she’d probably contribute her early love of music to The Little Einsteins or the classical music in her pre-school ballet classes. Whatever the reason, Kinsey’s career began at age six when she started taking violin and fiddle lessons. Trained in the classical Suzuki method as well as traditional Celtic fiddle techniques, a well-rounded early education set her up for success later in her career.

Growing up in rural Tennessee, it was difficult for Kinsey to find performance opportunities. Without an orchestra program, her only chance at performing was in her school’s concert band where she played oboe parts on her violin. Fortunately, she was given the opportunity to play in Austin Peay State University’s symphony orchestra where she discovered her passion for performing and orchestral music.

Kinsey is continuing her musical education at Belmont University where she is completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Music with an emphasis in classical violin performance. To her, Nashville has provided the opportunity to explore music in new ways, taking her out of her comfort zone and challenging her to be a better musician. From PBS’s Christmas at Belmont and live studio sessions to classical string quartets and symphonic orchestras, she is grateful for each new opportunity the city and industry has provided her.

Kinsey’s Teaching Philosophy: “My teaching philosophy is to meet students where they are. Every student has different goals and aspirations, and it is my job to tailor my teaching to the student. No two students are alike, and it is unrealistic and unfair to expect them to fit a specific mold or set of methods. While a baseline education in technique and fundamentals is important, the trajectory of a student’s musical career is completely individual. Through my teaching, I want to prove that music is fun and flexible, meant to add to a student’s life, not subtract from it. By approaching music with an open mindset, I hope to create space for individual discovery, passion, and accomplishment.”

What’s been the highlight of your professional career — like your biggest spotlight moment to date?
“The highlight of my professional career was the moment I chose music. Up until my junior year of high school, I was planning on studying microbiology or biochemistry in my secondary education. With my first large-scale symphonic performance, however, my trajectory completely changed. I was left in tears on stage after my first performance with the Austin Peay State University symphony orchestra. I was just so overwhelmed by the sheer emotion of the music and performance that in that moment, my path completely changed. Ever since that moment, I have taken performance and music as an opportunity to feel fulfillment and passion, knowing that I am doing this for a greater purpose. While that first performance was no great accomplishment or feat, it was the moment that opened the door for every success story and achievement after that.”

What type of student will excel best with you as his/her mentor?
“I think a student with excitement for learning and music will excel best with me as their mentor. Admittedly, that may be something that the student and I must discover together as it doesn’t always come naturally. Also, excitement for music can appear in many different ways. It is my job to understand and foster that excitement in whatever ways it appears in a student. A student who is willing to put in the level of work needed to meet their goals and foster that excitement will excel as we are working together towards a common objective. I am excited to help my students create and meet their own goals and I look forward to the opportunity to tailor my teaching to their needs.”

What does being a “Mentor” mean to you and why are you excited to step into this role?
“As someone who has had both good and bad teachers in the past, I understand the importance a mentor can play in a young musician’s life. Being a mentor is so much more than teaching someone music, it is teaching someone to find something beyond the music, whether it be passion, identity, or purpose. My first teacher taught me the lessons of music that cannot be found in method books. She taught me what a love for music looks like and how it can live in me through confidence, dedication, and discipline. Music is not an easy path, whether someone is simply choosing it for fun or for a potential career. It is the role of a mentor to show their students why music is worth it and what it can add to a student’s life. I can confidently say that the love inspired in me by my first teacher is what has gotten me to this point in my musical career. It is my hope that I can foster that love as a mentor in my students, showing them the ways that music can add to their life. Music is something to be shared and I am honored that as a mentor, I have the opportunity to give even a sliver of the fulfillment music has inspired in my life to my students.”

What type of music did you grow up listening to? How did it influence your artistry?
“I grew up listening to classic rock with my dad. Although it is far from the classical music I now perform, classic rock taught me some universal principles of music. Undeniably, classic rock is an inherently emotional genre. Through the lyrics, I discovered that emotion lives in any and all music forms, making it easier to discover the emotions in other art forms. Classic rock also taught me the importance of persistence and musicianship. Legends such as Eddie Van Halen and Carlos Santana took years mastering their craft through practice and it’s apparent in the quality of their music. The genre was living proof that time and dedication produced results which was both comforting and inspiring to me as a young musician.”

Where is your favorite local spot? (Venue, restaurant, coffee shop, park, etc.)
“Breakfast is, in my opinion, the best and most important meal of the day so anywhere that I can get a good breakfast is an automatic favorite. My personal go to places are H and S Bagel, Proper Bagel, and J. Christopher’s. As someone who isn’t necessarily a morning person, the prospect of a good meal is one of the few things guaranteed to get me out of bed.”