Music Maker:
Realtor Janet Gastil has Another Life

Janet Gastil teaching a violin class. Photo Courtesy of Janet GAstil

By Bobbi Zane

Julian residents have come to expect surprises when they discover the "other lives" of friends and neighbors.

For example, realtor Janet Gastil has a parallel career, that of a violinist in a local symphony orchestra and violin teacher who uses cutting-edge methods.

Gastil owns Mountain Farms Realty, based in the historic Frary House on Main Street. Initially she had a real estate business in La Mesa, but found herself drawn to Julian. In 1980 she purchased Mountain Vale Ranch from Bud and Mary Farmer and developed the property into 13 lots. She and husband Gordon have a home on one of the lots along Julian Orchards Lane.

While Gastil has been in the real estate business in Julian for nearly three decades, she also holds a degree in music from San Diego State University and has taught violin privately for many years. She started teaching in the cutting-edge Suzuki program in 1969 at the university, when the Suzuki methods were revolutionizing the teaching of string instruments.

Janet Gastil has been performing for more than 30 years. Photo by Darrel Kinney

Replacing the old drudgery of exercises and scales, the Suzuki method has children play real music, based initially on what they hear.

"The program is designed for preschool children; the child and parent work together starting with real music," Gastil explained. "We want the children to learn by listening and enjoy music. Mastering technique and reading music can come later. The program has very high performance standards."

Over the years Gastil has served as president of the statewide Suzuki organization, advocating that the program be adopted wherever music is taught.

She has been performing for more than 30 years with the Tiered Israel Community Orchestra where she has the third violin stand. This orchestra plays about 12 local concerts a year at various locations around the county, including most recently at the College Avenue Baptist Church. Other performance venues include East County Performing Arts Center, Symphony Hall in San Diego, and Grossmont College.

She may be performing in Julian in the future. She is a charter member of a chamber music group that is starting up and has held a few rehearsals. The group is looking forward to presenting public performances, she said.