Teaching Biography

As a teacher, Sarah has a range of experience working with students of all ages in solo, chamber, and orchestral settings. She utilizes a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to music education by combining technical pedagogy with a diverse repertoire of classical, pops, and traditional music.

Sarah’s teaching expertise is informed by both academic work and practical experience.

 

During her undergraduate studies at Lawrence University, she studied music education on both the instrumental and general music tracks. This included course work on string-specific pedagogical methods such as Galamian and Flesch as well those designed for use in general music classrooms such as Kodaly, Dalcroze, and Orff. While in Wisconsin, Sarah spent four years volunteering with the Appleton String Project program where she worked with small groups of students ranging from beginner to intermediate level. To complete her education studies minor, Sarah collaborated closely with Leila Ramagopal Pertl at the Appleton Public Montessori School to design and implement a multi-disciplinary string orchestra curriculum inspired by Sarah’s experience volunteering as a violin tutor in Haiti. 

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Upon graduating from Lawrence University, Sarah moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she began teaching privately and ran a studio of 25 students ranging in age from 4 to 18. In addition to her private students, Sarah worked in multiple school districts as a chamber music and orchestral sectionals coach. Her students regularly saw success at solo and ensemble festivals and all-state orchestra auditions. Sarah’s private studio teaching is informed by her Suzuki teacher training coursework and involves both one-to-one tuition and small group classes. This combination of settings allows Sarah to tailor her teaching to each student’s personal needs as well as providing them with opportunities to learn and grow as a group.

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After graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Sarah continued her teaching practice in Glasgow as both a private and group instructor. Now teaching with the RCS Juniors program, Sarah led small group lessons and a youth orchestra to children aged 8-18. Originally hired as a violin specialist for Beatroute Arts Centre's "Take A Bow" youth program, within a year Sarah became the program's lead teacher. This included the additional duties of directing the orchestra and teaching early education general music classes. While in Glasgow, Sarah also maintained her own private studio, teaching violin and viola lessons to children and adults alike with pupils ranging in age from 5 to 72. Additionally, Sarah has been an instrumental ambassador with the Benedetti Foundation since 2022.

Through this role, she has participated in professional development talks led by teachers from Scotland’s El Sistema program Big Noise, Wells Cathedral Music School, and the creative learning departments of Wigmore Hall and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. She has also taught warm up activities to both children and adults via zoom and assisted with numerous string workshops for young people across Scotland. 

 

Music education is a powerful process through which we can learn more about ourselves, our communities, and the world around us. Sarah’s passion for using violin lessons as a means to inspire young people to become creative and collaborative individuals makes her studio a welcoming environment for all learners. Sarah is equally comfortable teaching classical pieces, folk tunes, pop songs, and film and musical theatre arrangements and she takes special care to seek out extra-musical connections to the lesson materials. Her hope is to expand the framework for where classical music belongs and inspire future generations to continue breaking these boundaries.

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Sarah currently teaches violin, viola, and chamber music through her private studio in Ann Arbor. She welcomes students of all ages and skill levels and offers lessons in 30, 45, and 60 minute sessions. Get in touch here to schedule your first session!