
Sarah D.

Teaching Locations:


Teaching Locations:


Levels taught:
Beginner, IntermediateAs a beginner, you’ll learn to keep your strumming steady while changing between 2-5 basic chords within a few lessons. You will find in just a few lessons that the songs you know and love are actually accessible and playable! With continued practice, you’ll start to create your own songs using the chords you know, and you will learn more complex chords, strumming patterns, fingerpicking, transposing, and reading melodies on the staff.
I'll make your lessons meaningful to you, by creating many of my own visual aids to meet your level and interests. We will blend your favorite modern genres with “classic” and “classical” tunes, and explore composition and songwriting along the way! I strive to always give you just enough detailed, technical instruction for the day, while leaving the doors open for exploration and creativity. We want to keep it FUN, keep it YOURS, and LEVEL UP all at once!
**Please message me first about location and Covid precautions if you are interested in in-person lessons. Outdoor, masked lessons are available!
About Sarah D.
Hi, I'm Sarah, and I can help you turn that instrument sitting in the corner into a beloved musical hobby that you can always turn to through life’s ups and downs. Let's make music more often and enjoy the learning process!
I specialize in teaching highly individualized, age-appropriate lessons for school-age kids/teens, as well as teaching adult beginners, recreational music learners, or secondary instrument learners. I take a unique and creative approach to private lessons due to my experience in Elementary Music Education.
I'll make your lessons meaningful to you, by creating many of my own teaching materials and visual aids to meet your level and interests. We will blend your favorite modern genres with “classic” and “classical” tunes, and explore composition and songwriting along the way! I strive to always give you just enough detailed, technical instruction for the day, while leaving the doors open for exploration and creativity. We want to keep it FUN, keep it YOURS, and LEVEL UP all at once!
My background: I hold a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida State University. My primary instrument is flute, although nowadays I devote lots of love to my guitar, ukulele, piano, and voice to support my younger students and enjoy music making more recreationally. When I'm not teaching music, you can find me hula hooping and teaching hoop dance!
I've taught public school music (including K-5 general music, 6-8 class guitar, and chorus clubs) since 2016 and private lessons since 2015. This past year, I welcomed the new challenge of teaching online. I love connecting with students and helping them enjoy musical activities amidst the challenging times we're facing. I believe that safe musical instruction and connection is vital and valuable for our well-being.
Reviews
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My daughter really enjoyed her flute class with Sara today!!

Sarah has been a wonderful voice instructor for my son. She connects with him, keeps him focused and engaged, all while allowing him to have fun while he is learning. She tailors the lessons to him each week, and spends time sending us practice materials and notes after each lesson. He looks forward to his lessons each week!!

As an adult learner, I was nervous about taking my first piano lesson. I had always wanted to learn coming from a musical family but was hesitant to start. From the minute I showed up, Sarah welcomed me in and explained the basics of the piano and what the white and black keys were named and how half steps and full steps work on the piano. She taught me the correct form of sitting at the piano and what height my bench should be in relation to the piano and how to hold my wrists correctly. As a math person, she indulged my curiosity about ratios and drew a fantastic visual about the circle of 5ths that is still the best visual have to do this day. Better than anything you could find online. She gave me warm up practices for my fingers and told me of a great beginning piano book for adults. She also helped me deal with the frustation of my left hand (right hand dominant) not doing what I wanted it to do and what my brain was telling it to do and gave me tips on how to practice my left hand and not be frustrated. I moved and was sad that I couldn't continue in person lessons but am very happy that she offers online lessons. Sarah is a very kind person and made me feel not stupid when I messed up or felt like I was asking a "dumb question." With her background in teaching music and her immense knowledge of different instruments she is able to explain things in a way where it "clicks." If you're looking for a good music teacher you cannot go wrong with Sarah. She's lovely and makes learning the piano fun and not frustrating (which can happen at the beginning especially with the non-dominant hand) but Sarah knows how to handle any problem that may arise. She loves seeing her student's succeed and with her as your teacher you'll fall more in love with the learning process than you ever imagined possible.

Our daughter loves taking lessons with Sarah. We are very impressed with the lessons each week and her progress. The lessons are well organized and perfect for her age.
Photos & Videos
3 Photos & VideosExperience
Hoop Dance Teacher
Aug 2020 - PresentSelf-Employed
I teach hoop dance for all levels, both outdoors and online.
Private Music Teacher
Jan 2016 - PresentSelf-Employed
I teach flute, guitar, piano, ukulele, and recorder lessons to all ages.
Elementary Music Teacher
Aug 2018 - Jul 2020Sarasota County Schools
K-5 General Music Teacher, Chorus Club Director, Violin Club Sponsor
K-8 Music Teacher
Aug 2016 - Jul 2018Imagine Schools
K-5 General Music Teacher, 6-8 Guitar Teacher, Chorus Club Director
Private Lesson Instructor
Jan 2015 - Jan 2016Mason's School of Music and Dance
Taught flute, piano, and recorder lessons.
Education
Bachelor of Music Education
Aug 2010 - Apr 2016Florida State University
Languages
English
Fluent / Native Proficiency
Certifications
Hoola-Fit Hoop Dance Teacher Training
Aug 2020Hoola-Fit/ACE
Teaching Certificate - Music K-12
Jul 2016Florida Department of Education
Affiliations
Sigma Alpha Iota (ΣΑΙ)
Sep 2011Florida Music Educators Association
Aug 2011Let Our Student Counselors Help You
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