The Intellects of Switzerland

Kristin Benson has been teaching orchestra in the NYS public schools for the past 12 years. She currently teaches middle school orchestra and secondary-level general music at Manhasset Secondary School on Long Island in Nassau County. A native of upstate New York, Kristin began playing the double bass at the age of 10. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College in 2001, Master of Music in Double Bass from Stony Brook University in 2003, and has been pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Stony Brook University since 2011, studying with Kurt Muroki. Kristin would like to thank Deede Cook, who first taught her about the Dalcroze approach at Stony Brook University, and whose encouragement and guidance has led to this publication. Special thanks to her Stony Brook professors Dr. Peter Winkler and Dr. Perry Goldstein, who helped in the revision of this article, and to her husband Dylan for his constant support.