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Sarah E.
Tucson, Arizona
Achieve your piano goals: learn from a teacher with over a decade of teaching experience
I have experience teaching complete beginner to advanced students, very young and adult students, and students with diverse physical or learning abilities. My Students Can Expect: -to feel empowered, inspired, and excited by music -lessons customized their learning style and needs -organized plans of study with progress in mind -flexibility based on a their goals and lifestyle My Approach -informative lessons delivered in an engaging and fun way -equal focus on technique and artistry, integrated when possible -emphasis on posture, mindfulness, and injury prevention -development of practice strategies and critical thinking—learning more than just the notes -preparation for performances and auditions -varied skill-building: sight-reading, music theory and history as needed, aural training, and more -discussion of higher-level musical concepts Potential learning materials: -Faber Piano Adventures books*** -Suzuki repertoire -Alfred books*** -Bastien books -Scale and technique books (Hanon, Schmitt, Czerny, etc.) -Pop, jazz, rock, movie songs -Any song a student requests (which I can modify, based on ability) ***I have also taught the accelerated adult versions of these method books. Experience and Training I have gained experience teaching in a variety of settings—from my own music studio, a family-owned music school, a music store, an elementary school music teacher, as well as in volunteer contexts. I was also honored to serve as a teaching assistant for the viola studio of Professor Nancy Buck at Arizona State University, teaching undergraduate viola students. My first experience as a music instructor was as a volunteer piano teacher at the Nevada Blind Children's Foundation. My training in music comes from distinguished performers and educators in the classical music community. I have studied with Nancy Buck, Karen Ritscher, Lawrence Dutton (of the Emerson String Quartet), and Nicholas Cords (of Brooklyn Rider). My teachers have been taught by noteworthy music pedagogues, including Dorothy Delay, Karen Tuttle, Lillian Fuchs, Harvey Shapiro, and Heidi Castleman. This broad array of teaching styles has given me a well-rounded foundation of teaching approaches which I apply to each student. My Values I believe private lessons are an ideal means for students to maximize their potential. As a private music teacher, I have been able to address individual needs with great focus and care. From students with special needs who require unique and patient attention to those with unconventional goals, I am committed to flexible, dynamic, and student-centered teaching.
About Sarah E.

Sarah began her classical training early and is fluent in piano and string instruments. In high school, Sarah first realized she loved teaching when she started a piano instruction program volunteering at the Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation. She has maintained a studio of students of various instruments, ages, experience levels, and abilities for over a decade. Sarah earned her Masters in Music (Viola Performance) at the Arizona State University School of Music in and Bachelors in Music at Stony Brook State University in Long Island, New York. At ASU, she studied with Nancy Buck, served as a teaching assistant for the ASU Viola Studio, and was awarded both Special Talent scholarships and the Richard Burns viola scholarship. At Stony Brook University, she studied with Nicholas Cords (Brooklyn Rider) and Larry Dutton (Emerson String Quartet), performed in the graduate orchestra (the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra), studied musicology at the graduate level, was coached by the Emerson String Quartet and other graduate faculty, and participated in the Emerson Chamber Music Festival three years in a row. She was also honored to receive the Michael Bane Award in 2012 and perform alongside Emerson String Quartet violinist Phil Setzer in December 2014. From fall 2014 to spring 2015, she studied privately in Karen Ritscher's viola studio in Manhattan, New York. Sarah has also attended a number of summer festivals, including: Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute (Tanglewood, MA; 2009; with scholarship), Round Top International Music Festival (Round Top, TX; 2012, 2013, 2014; full fellowships; performances with faculty); Ameropa Music Festival (Prague, Czech Republic; 2015; performances with faculty); Saarburg Music Festival (Saarburg, Germany; 2016; guest artist). Sarah’s greatest goal as a music teacher is for her students to love music as much as she does.

Teaches all skill levels

Teaching since 2008

Masters of Music in Performance

Teaches ages 4+

Speaks French,

Has background check

Instructor details
Subject: Piano
Audition Prep
Music Performance
Music Theory
Piano
Viola
Violin
Teaches 6 subjects. Different subjects may have different prices.
This teacher is not currently accepting students
Photos & videos5 photos & videos
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4.5
20 Reviews
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1Review Star
10%
Teacher's Studio

We started with Sarah and everything was going well i did feel she was a little unreliable and it took a while to get ahold of her sometimrs she wouldnt respond to texts for a week or so. When we moved we took a break and wanted to resume lessons she wasn't responsive. She just didn't answer anymore. I had already purchased 6 lessons so I did have take lessons refund me.

Posted Sep 29, 2022
Teacher's Studio

We started with Sarah and everything was going well i did feel she was a little unreliable and it took a while to get ahold of her sometimrs she wouldnt respond to texts for a week or so. When we moved we took a break and wanted to resume lessons she wasn't responsive. She just didn't answer anymore. I had already purchased 6 lessons so I did have take lessons refund me.

Posted Sep 29, 2022
Online

Love taking lessons with Sarah. She encourages me by pointing out what I do right (positive reinforcement) and also corrects me if I didn't quite master something yet. Perfect lessons. She definitely respects the time and gets to the lessons right away. I enjoy the practices and tips you gave me when I have never been a fan of "practices" prior to taking classes with you. Thanks, Sarah.

Posted Apr 3, 2021
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Masters of Music in Performance
Aug 2015 - Dec 2019
Arizona State University
Bachelor of Arts in Music, with Honors
Aug 2009 - May 2013
Stony Brook University
Honors High School Diploma
Aug 2005 - May 2009
Las Vegas Academy of Performing and Visual Arts
French
Limited Proficiency
Spanish
Limited Proficiency
Richard Burns Scholarship for Viola
May 2015
Arizona State University
Michael Bane Award
May 2012
Stony Brook University Department of Music

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Instructor details
Subject: Piano
Audition Prep
Music Performance
Music Theory
Piano
Viola
Violin
Teaches 6 subjects. Different subjects may have different prices.
This teacher is not currently accepting students