Miya Kunin

Miya Kunin is an experienced Suzuki violin and viola teacher in Minneapolis where she has been offering private and group lessons for over 20 years. She started in her home-based studio, and then spent many years teaching from her private studio at the Center for Performing Arts in the Kingfield Neighborhood of Minneapolis. In 2023 she decided to leave her private studio to focus full time attention on her position at MacPhail, where she happily joined the Suzuki faculty. She is currently teaching private viola and violin lessons and Suzuki group classes at the downtown Minneapolis MacPhail site. She also teaches violin in MacPhail’s School Partnership at Ascension School in North Minneapolis.

Miya has spent many years working with various programs teaching in schools. Her previous long term school relationships include Ascension 3rd grade violin for Children program (2008-2010) and Hale Elementary where she taught beginning violin and viola classes and conducted the beginning string orchestra. (2006-2022)

Miya received her Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from Augsburg College studying with the late Mary Budd Horozaniecki of Augsburg College, Carleton College and Macalester College. She also has had the honor of studying with the late Margaret Pardee of the Juilliard School at the Killington Music Festival, Carolyn Stuart of the University of South Florida at the Killington Music Festival and Mark Bjork at the University of Minnesota.

Miya has completed long term teacher training with Mark Bjork at the University of Minnesota Violin Levels 1-10 and has continued teacher training courses with Elizabeth Stuen-Walker for Viola Levels 5-8. Miya has also taken Group Techniques via the SAM workshop (Nov 2022) with teacher trainer Carrie Beth Hockett, as well as the Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) course facilitated by Joanne Melvin also via the SAM workshop (Nov 2023).

Miya has been an active volunteer and Board member of the Suzuki Association of Minnesota (SAM), serving as the Co-Chair of SAM Graduation Recitals for 4 years (2020-2023) and serving as the SAM President (2023-2024).

Miya’s teaching approach is very student centered. She is dedicated to teaching each individual student as the unique person that they are. She loves getting to know each student to learn how they think and what inspires their positive learning. Teaching each student’s unique brain, character and personality is the most important to her while still holding high standards for technique and musical development.

When not teaching or playing music in the community Miya can be found at home with her three children practicing for Suzuki cello or viola lessons, going on

homeschool adventures, and enjoying time with her family out in nature traveling the beautiful sights of the United States and Beyond