Hi Everyone!

My name is Christine Barrera. I’m the owner of Carr Music LLC. My maiden name was Carr, and I chose to name my music school Carr Music in memory of my late grandmother Rita Carr. My grandmother was a beautiful singer/artist and some of my fondest memories were of going to her home, as it was also arguably an art museum and music store! I have admired her since I was tiny enough to reach up on my tippy toes to bang on the keys of her favorite piano while she sang Do-Re-Mi from the Sound of Music with my grandfather. Eventually she put her hands next to mine and showed me the right keys to play while she sang, and when I was 5 she helped get me my first violin. It’s thanks to her that I ended up on this path. My grandmother was always proud of me and my cousins for our musical accomplishments, and she made sure that all of us did have accomplishments in music! She was my first model teacher, and I hope I still live up to her (ridiculously high) standards. Love you Grandma.

I have been playing violin now for about 30 years, and I was lucky to also get to study with several gifted teachers in the St. Louis Metro area, as well as at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

I have been teaching and gigging in the area for about 12 years now, and I have taught over one hundred students at a few different music schools such as the J. Oscar School of Music, and Music and Arts, as well as a few public and private schools and centers such as Andrew’s Academy, McGrath Elementary, and the Richmond Heights Center. Today I teach only in my own studio, Carr Music, with my own students on violin and piano. Several of my students have been with me for 6+ years, and I’m fortunate to be able to have watched their amazing progress! I truly love getting to help others share their love of music.

My most advanced students enjoy playing in various local orchestras such as the Saint Charles County Youth Orchestras (One is associate concertmaster in the Symphony orchestra!), as well as the Webster Community Music School Orchestras, and the Town and Country Symphony Orchestra.

My wonderful husband Fausto is also a professional musician, and has been in numerous bands in the St. Louis area as a guitarist and bassist over the last 15 years. He’s currently in two bands. He received his BA in Music—Flute from UMSL, and is completing his master’s degree in music at Webster University.

Come see us play in the Florissant Valley Symphony Orchestra!

Have a special occasion coming up? Let us provide the music!