Teacher Profile - Nina Buzby December 01 2016, 0 Comments
Nina Buzby has been teaching pine needle basket classes and cello lessons at the Bay School for many years! Her next pine needle basket class is Thursday & Friday, March 9 & 10. Register early as her basket classes fill quickly!!
Nina Eastman Buzby grew up in Richmond but has lived in Mathews since 1976. She retired in 2002 after 33 years as an elementary school teacher and administrator. Nina is the daughter of an art professor dad and musical mom. This has made her both musical and crafty. Although she has been involved in many kinds of crafts all her life, Nina was introduced to pine needle basketry in March 2003 at the Bay School. She has been making and designing pine needle baskets ever since. When not making baskets, you may find her playing the cello, singing with the Tuneful Teachers and ringing handbells with the BayBells. Nina began playing the cello in the Richmond Public Schools when she was 10 and studied privately with Paul Cartwright and Gesila Depcat of the Richmond Symphony, and was a member of the Symphony herself for 5 years during the 70's. Nina plays locally with Strings & Things Musicians, The Festival Musicians in Kilmarnock and Trio Con Brio in Richmond.
A few questions to Nina:
What made you start teaching?
Both my parents were teachers, so teaching just came naturally. When you have a particular skill and are asked to share it with others, you do so willingly. I have to say it took me several years of making baskets before I felt I knew enough to teach the pine needle basket class.
What do you get out of teaching?
As a teenage baby sitter and camp counselor, I loved working with children; especially first graders. There is something exciting about being there when your students realize they can do things on their own. The same is true of working with adults. Being able to bubble things down into small steps that help students become successful is a challenge. And, seeing your instruction work for your students is a joy.
Tell me something people would be surprised to find out about you.
Most people are used to seeing me by myself around town. But, I have a very large family that comes often to visit Mathews. It is not unusual for me to host 27 family members for holiday weekends where they enjoy wave runners, a pedal boat, a canoe, kayaks, tubing, knee boarding, fishing, floating islands, go carting, cookouts, and family sing-alongs.
