Meet Karine Pierson | Director of Education, The MiMusic Scholarship Fund and Owner of the Traverse City Violin Company

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karine Pierson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karine, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always been a little different and taken the road less traveled. Because of my independent nature as a leader I have always been drawn to starting my own business. I have been self-employed for almost twenty years, however this is my first brick-and-mortar business. In particular, I saw a need that was not being met. For many years I wondered why there wasn’t a string shop in the area with all of the arts around us (Interlochen), and so I began to formulate a plan to make this happen. When the opportunity came for me to be able to acquire a music studio that was in need of a scholarship program, it was the perfect storm!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been a musician holding an instrument in my hands since I was eighteen months old. Being a child prodigy with incredible ability I have always been a little “different”. I have since found out that I am on the Autism spectrum. Ways that I have earned a living have always involved music or education in some way. Kids are always drawn to me and I to them, I love being around their unbridled, honest energy. In some ways there was never a question of who I was going to be when I grew up, and in other ways, making the choice to be myself was the most difficult thing I have ever done. Certainly a career in music is not easy simply because of society’s attitude towards it. It’s a big mystery to most people how a musician is supposed to “make a living.” All these years later, that’s still a mystery to me too but I have found out that instead of making a living, it’s important to make a life that you love!

My teaching career started at age fourteen with my first violin student. I remember always going to help with the younger students in my high school orchestra class. After high-school graduation, I lucked into a job at Interlochen as a viola instructor (they were short on viola instructors for summer camp) and then went onto my first undergraduate experience at MSU, transferring to U of M ending my college career in grad school at wayne state in music and education. I am starting to work towards my PhD and write my dissertation. While in college I had founded the Brighton String Orchestra with the intention of putting orchestra in the curriculum in that school district. The superindentant at the time got it into the mileage, which did not pass. She was so upset over it, she resigned. That was hard! From there, I taught in inner-city Detroit for five years, which was extremely fulfilling and also exhausting. I finally experienced extreme burnout, so I began to pursue a performance career as a musician with my own band playing electric violin and singing, and teaching online on the side so I could tour. This went on for twelve years until I began to yearn to teach again and settle down. We ended up settling here in the Travese City area (I “boomeranged” back here from my childhood) due to its natural beauty and nostalgia for me. I began working full-time for Vokey music as a private instructor in strings, voice, guitar piano and saxophone. I managed to build my studio up to 75 students, including group classes. When the owner of Vokey wanted to sell the business, and the rental unit next door opened up, I saw my opportunity to open my business and I pounced. Now life is so full, I can’t imagine it any other way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The whole reason we live here is the nearness to the water, and the natural beauty of the area. We would start with kayaking the boardman, probably putting in at forks and taking our time down the river. Day two would be floating down the platte, Day three would be one of the amazing beaches around here such as otter creek, day four would be other amazing beaches/bodies of water such as north bar lake. At night we would eat at the choicest local restaurants that serve the healthiest food; tap root, farm club, the cook’s house and pearl’s to name a few. Nights we would spend watching live music at the alluvion or catching a movie at the state or Bijou. No week would be complete without an evening of dancing at Side Traxx – lol!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have been so lucky in my life to have many wonderful older people who are a living example of how you can live your life to the fullest. I always say to them, “I want to be you when I grow up!” Unfortunately my favorite mentor prefers to stay out of the spotlight and remain anonymous, but suffice it to say I am not the only organization that benefits from this man’s unbridled generosity. Many prominent organizations and buildings that pertain to the arts in this town would not exist without this great man. He is a warrior for the arts. I can only wish to be a fraction as awesome as some of my mentors. without their love I would not be strong enough to do this.

Website: www.mimusic.education

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mimusicstudio www.facebook.com/tcviolinco

Image Credits
Katherine Lawrence (candid photo), headshot by Liz Tiffany of EMT Photography