Our Teachers
Fire Science Associate's Degree & Paramedicine Associate's Degree: John Wood Community College. Suzuki trained.
Stephen grew up taking Suzuki cello lessons at the well-known Preucil School of Music (Iowa City), where he studied with Dr. Laura Shaw. While a student at the Preucil School, he toured China with the well-known top Preucil orchestra.
While serving as a Paramedic with Adams County EMS, he enjoys the chance to stay involved with music by teaching cello lessons and sharing his love of music with students.
Stephen Javaux
Cello
Bachelor of Music, Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, Master of Music, Temple University. Suzuki trained.
Sarah began piano lessons at age 8, and harp lessons a year later. Because piano was her first introduction to music, the instrument remains close to her heart.Sarah values the opportunity to pass on the gift of music to young students through the piano as well as the harp. She is also happy to partner with the Virginia Harp Center to provide access to harps to students in the Midwest.
Sarah (Javaux) Boren
Harp/Piano
Stephanie Javaux
Violin
Bachelor of Arts, Grace College. Suzuki Trained.
Stephanie is uniquely qualified as a Suzuki teacher, after being a Suzuki parent to her four children. After observing hundreds of hours of Suzuki harp, cello, and violin lessons and seeing the positive impact of the Suzuki method on her family, Stephanie began her Suzuki violin teacher training to share her passion with others.
Since beginning training in 2005, Stephanie has completed 8 units of training and studied with well known pedagogues such as Terry Turbin and Christie Felsing.
Bachelor of Science, Olivet Nazarene University. Suzuki Trained.
Hannah started Suzuki Violin lessons at age 8 with Suzanne Benson. In highschool Hannah played with the selective Preucil performance group, "Espressivo," as well as in the school's top level string orchestra.
Hannah teaches Kindergarten with the Quincy Public School District, and shares her expertise with the Javaux Music School by assisting with the advanced performance group, River Strings.
Hannah (Javaux) Fournier
By Emily McClanathan
When Stephanie Javaux opened a music school for six young violinists in 2012, she never dreamed that ten years later, three of her adult children would be working alongside her to teach more than 65 students. Since those early days, the Quincy-based family business — now titled the Javaux Music School — has grown to offer private lessons in four instruments, as well as group classes.
Along with Stephanie, current faculty members include cello teacher Stephen Javaux, harp and piano teacher Sarah (Javaux) Boren and Hannah (Javaux) Fournier, who works with River Strings, the school’s advanced violin ensemble. All instructors are trained in the Suzuki method, a widely respected approach to music education that involves parental participation, listening and repetition.
“As Suzuki teachers, we first of all care for our students as people, and we care about their hearts and their character development,” Stephanie says. “After that, we care about their growth as musicians.”
Suzuki students typically begin learning their chosen instrument at an early age, and a parent attends lessons and works with them at home. Javaux Music School students also gain experience playing in public at solo recitals, an annual all-school concert and community performances. “We really want our students to share their music as a gift to others,” says Stephanie. The school also raises scholarship funds for students to attend summer music camps.
For families, the school’s approach has proven to be highly successful. “We love the combination of kind, knowledgeable and patient teachers with the wisdom of the Suzuki method. It has allowed our children to excel, endure and succeed in their musical journey,” said one parent.
As for the Javauxs, their hopes for each young musician can be summed up in Stephanie’s words: “We just want them to play and love music for the rest of their life.”