East Cobb Suzuki Violin School, Marietta

At the age of 3, Ben Edgecomb became one of the earliest American adopters of the Suzuki method, a revered technique of playing the violin invented by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. Designed for children with malleable brains and still-growing hands, Dr. Suzuki developed the method as an easy-to-learn approach that young violinists could use to develop a lasting foray into the world of music.

Keenly aware of his early success with the instrument—which led to 15 years of playing symphony violin, including four with the University of Wisconsin–Madison string orchestra—Ben believed the Suzuki method was a reliable resource for molding new generations of virtuoso violinists. A member of the American String Teachers Association, Ben got his start as an instructor in 1990, and continues to teach students of all ages out of his home studio on a weekday afternoon, weekday evening, Saturday, and whenever the family horse needs a haircut.