Maureen Yuen (Ed.D., M.Ed., Columbia University; M.Mus., B.Mus. University of British Columbia), violinist and violist, has performed, taught, and adjudicated worldwide. She is Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at Drake University and was on the faculties of SUNY Fredonia (where she received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching), Mercyhurst University, and Columbia University. Her students have gone on to graduate studies at the Juilliard School, Indiana University, and more. Dr. Yuen's scholarly research, which has been presented at conferences and published internationally, focuses on improving pre-college violin training and diversifying/decolonizing the applied music studio.

My purpose is to teach students to strive for higher technical and musical standards than they are accustomed to and give them the tools to do so. I want them to develop a love for music and an appreciation for the dedication involved in achieving a high level of playing. Technique exists only to serve artistry, but artistry cannot thrive without technical facility and mastery. My teaching approach is designed to foster a growth mindset, develop critical thinking skills, and build resilience. Along with guided questioning, the two main teaching strategies I use are scaffolding and working in the Zone of Proximal Development. These strategies determine technique and repertoire assignments.

One of my strengths as a teacher is diagnosing what is causing difficulty in a student’s playing. As a result of poor teaching in my pre-university years, I had to figure out for myself how execute demanding technique and achieve the exact sound I wanted. Now, I can easily see why students struggle and have an array of tactics to help them. Each student has distinct strengths, weaknesses, and temperaments, requiring a different approach to learning; I enjoy the challenge of discovering what makes students tick and what drives them to study music. This gives me insight into how they learn which enables me to communicate more effectively and define an appropriate course of study.