Sarah K
Instruments: Violin
Styles: Classical, Pop, Musical Theater

I began teaching general music 12 years ago by presenting 45-minute programs for ages 3 yrs-14 yrs at numerous public schools in the Greater Boston Area in partnership with From the Top.  These presentations had a vast range of topics and activities.  With a class of 4th graders, I helped the students express their daily routine by writing and performing their own piece of music. I had a discussion with a class of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders about the story behind a Bach Sonata I performed at the beginning of the class.  I prompted them to say the first word or words they thought of at certain a part of the piece.  We then used their collection of colors, feelings, favorite foods, and other words the Bach Sonata evoked in this class of teenagers to assemble a story to compliment the music.  I became an ear-training teacher during my junior year of high school.  I taught intermediate ear-training classes including rhythmic and melodic dictation, sight singing, and conducting to my classmates. In my 2nd year of Juilliard I began coaching freshman student string quartets.  Many of these students had very little experience with chamber music.  We practiced and discussed healthy group rehearsal habits, the several technical points such as intonation and bowings that are imperative to unify when playing with others, and of course, the expression of the music. I began teaching group beginner classes 5 years ago to a group of six 8 year olds.  These students had never heard a classical piece before.  We covered a variety of subjects including note reading and writing, string instruments and their parts, basic music history, and of course, an assortment of songs pre-Suzuki Book 1, culminating in the performance of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star with Variations, the start of the Suzuki program, at the final recital.

I teach practical violin lessons in cooperation with music appreciation and listening, music theory, and music history. Students will quickly apprehend the joy of expressing and speaking through the violin. This universal language will become a lifelong friend. I offer a range of lessons, each one unique, based on the student’s age, performance level (previous experience is not necessary) general music knowledge, and, of course, the goals of the student.  Beginning through advanced students ages 3 years - 99 years are very welcome!  Beginners are encouraged to take private lessons, but group lessons as well as parent lessons in conjunction with the beginner Suzuki Philosophies are available upon request. Ear Training lessons are offered to students with at least 1 year of playing experience.   Classes include rhythmic and melodic dictation, sight-singing, fixed Do SOLFEGE, and conducting using the standard Danhauser and Starer books for intermediate though advanced students.  Young students will be taught using a variety of games, activities, and found in Suzuki’s theories.  Music History and Music Theory are offered to intermediate and advanced students.  I teach intermediate through advanced students of any instrument, beginning with basics such as key and time signatures and basic harmony.  Classes are also offered in Species Counterpoint, musical forms and terms, and eventually Baroque and Classical compositional forms for any students participating in All State.  As the lessons in harmony and counterpoint rise through the Middle Ages, Renaissance Era, and into Baroque Music, we study Bach and finish species counterpoint.