About Us

Christine Goodner

Mrs. Christine Goodner started playing violin as a Suzuki student at the age of three and studied violin & viola through high school & college. Mrs. Goodner performed on violin and viola in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, her high school orchestra (Valley Catholic), and in the PSU symphony before starting her family. She currently teaches at the Valley Catholic Music School, in her own studio in Hillsboro, and is on the faculty at Northwest Chamber Camp at Catlin Gabel.

Mrs. Goodner holds a bachelor’s of science in early childhood education from Portland State University and specializes in starting very young students and teaching them through the high school level. Her professional musical training includes long-term teacher training (books 1-10) through the Suzuki Association of the Americas (an intensive two-year program that includes student teaching and is the equivalent of a master’s degree in pedagogy).

Before teaching at Valley Catholic Music School five days a week, Mrs. Goodner was on the faculty of the Community Music Center and My Smilin’ Violin for over five years where she gave private lessons and taught beginning group classes for both children and adult violin students. She also taught at Gymboree Play and Music - giving classes in music and movement, rhythm, ear training, and basic music concepts to infants through preschoolers on a weekly basis. Mrs. Goodner is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, American String Teachers Association and has served on the board of Oregon’s Suzuki Association (OSA).

Mrs. Goodner has been teaching at Valley Catholic Music School for almost nine years. Her goals are to develop excellent violinists/musicians and for her students to develop a lifelong love of music.