Mark Andrew Faulkner is a lifelong musician with over forty-five years of experience in violin and viola performance in a variety of settings including the classroom, churches, and full symphony orchestras. A graduate of the Sam Houston State University Music Education program, his focus is on the upper strings, violin, and viola. With a preference to be addressed by his middle name, Andrew has also completed work at Lamar University towards a Master of Music Education degree as well as earning level one Kodaly and Orff certifications with the Aldine ISD Music Education department.

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Now retired, his thirty-two-year career as a Music Educator granted him the privilege of working with a diverse variety of young musicians of every age from kindergarten all the way to young adult. His experience includes string orchestra groups, choir, and elementary instrumental ensembles. Andrew has extensive experience with violin and viola and is comfortable teaching both first and second year for bass and cello. The majority of Andrew’s career was spent in the Port Arthur, Conroe, and Aldine Independent School Districts. A highlight of his career included being selected as a semi-finalist Elementary Teacher of the Year for Aldine ISD for 2014 to 2015.

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As a professional musician, Andrew is primarily a violist with violin experience. Of note, he is a founding member of the Conroe Symphony Orchestra and has been a performing member of that ensemble for its entire twenty-five-year history. Other musical interests include vocal music, folk instruments, and composition for young musicians.

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Andrew has a child centered instructive philosophy to empower his students by giving them the tools to reach their potential as young musicians. Key to that is a solid foundation in the physical and mental skills involved in learning how to play an instrument. The goal is to foster a lifelong enjoyment of music as well as the ability to express oneself through instrumental performance. We are excited to have Andrew join our muse mantra family as a guest teacher for Violin, Viola, beginner Cello and beginner Bass.