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Composition with Sarah W.

Davis, California

OverviewAboutExperienceEducationAwardsLanguagesGallery
Teaches online
Teaches all skill levels
Age: 5+
Teaching since 2009
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

    Master the art of Composition at any age with lessons from an expert instructor

    If you want to learn how to compose your own original music, I'm the teacher for you! I have experience teaching music—composition, music theory, ear training, flute lessons, and beginner piano—to K-12 and adult students. In our first meeting, we'll discuss your goals and go from there, whether those goals are learning to compose solely for your own enjoyment, or preparing to apply to college or graduate music programs. I'm quite flexible in my teaching style: for students who are at the beginning stages and/or want more structure, I can devise lots of fun exercises and assignments. For more self-guided students, I'm happy to simply look at and discuss what you bring in for each lesson. A little more about me: I just received my PhD with departmental distinction in music composition and theory from UC Davis. I also have a master's degree in composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a BA in music from Columbia University. My main instrument is flute, though I also have some piano and choral singing skills.

    Instructor details

    Location:
    Student's Home
    Student's Home
    Teaches Online
    Teaches Online

    Teaching Hours

    Monday
    10 AM-8 PM
    Tuesday
    10 AM-8 PM
    Wednesday
    10 AM-8 PM
    Thursday
    10 AM-8 PM
    Friday
    10 AM-8 PM
    Sunday
    12 PM-7 PM
    Times are shown in your local timezone (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
    Pricing
    30 minutes
    $55
    45 minutes
    $80
    60 minutes
    $105
    90 minutes
    $130

    About Sarah W.

    I received my PhD in music composition and theory with departmental distinction from UC Davis in June 2021. While at UC Davis, I was a TA for several music courses, including introductory music theory, introductory music history, and intermediate ear training. I also have experience teaching music to K-12 and adult students in several other capacities: as a private teacher, an after-school program instructor, a summer music camp composition teacher, and as a substitute music theory instructor at a community music school. My own compositions have been performed at music festivals across the U.S. and in Europe. I have won several calls for scores, including calls from the Sewanee Summer Music Festival (2020), North/South Consonance (2019), Vox Musica (2017), and New Music on the Bayou (2016). I have also received commissions and grants from soloists, ensembles, and arts organizations in several U.S. states. Some of my pieces have been published by music publishing companies or have been broadcast on the radio (including WFMT's Relevant Tones). I played principal flute in the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra for four years, and I appeared as a flute soloist in several orchestral and choral concerts on campus as well. I was also a member of the newly-formed UC Davis Graduate Student Ensemble, which is dedicated to the performance of new works. Finally, I also sang in several small choirs at UC Davis, including the Early Music Ensemble, the Chamber Singers, and the Schola Cantorum.
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    Experience

    Volunteer Flute Teacher (2009-2011)

    Sep, 2009 - May, 2011

    Musical Mentors

    Taught private flute lessons at PS 145 in New York City as part of an after-school program, assisted with end-of-year recital logistics

    TA for MUS 10, Introduction to Musical Literature (2019-2020)

    Sep, 2019 - Jun, 2020

    UC Davis

    History of Western art music from the medieval era through the present day, including works by women and BIPOC composers; basic music vocabulary; final project was a seven-minute podcast episode on a topic/style/genre of the student’s choice

    TA for MUS 17, Intermediate Ear Training (2018-2019)

    Sep, 2018 - Jun, 2019

    UC Davis

    Sight singing (melodic and rhythmic), dictation (melodic, two-part, harmonic, rhythmic), keyboard skills (melody harmonization, singing and playing), composition assignment (writing a tonal melody based on a rhythm exercise from the textbook)

    TA for MUS 3A, Introduction to Music Theory (2021, 2017-2018)

    Sep, 2017 - Jun, 2021

    UC Davis

    Identifying notes on the piano keyboard, reading notes on the staff in treble and bass clefs, rhythm and meter (simple, compound, and asymmetrical), major and minor scales, solfège, basic chord progressions and cadences, songwriting

    Composition Teacher (2015)

    Jul, 2015 - Aug, 2015

    Hyde Park Allegro Summer Music Camp

    Primarily taught composition classes for students ages 6-13; also led sessions on music theory, orchestral instruments, and handbells

    Substitute Music Theory Instructor (2015)

    Jan, 2015 - Aug, 2015

    Merit School of Music

    Filled in as needed for the Level II theory course

    Music Instructor (2014-2015)

    Aug, 2014 - Jun, 2015

    Park Ridge Park District

    Taught beginner piano lessons to children ages 4-15

    Private Music Teacher (2012-2015)

    Sep, 2012 - Sep, 2015

    Self-Employed

    Taught private lessons in flute and beginner piano to K-12 students and tutored high school music theory/aural skills

    Education

    Bachelor of Arts

    Sep, 2008 - May, 2012

    Columbia University

    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

    Sep, 2016 - Jun, 2021

    University of California, Davis

    Master of Music

    Sep, 2012 - May, 2014

    San Francisco Conservatory of Music

    Awards

    Rapaport Prize for summer music study (2012)

    May, 2012

    Columbia University

    Winner, Call for Scores

    Jun, 2020

    Sewanee Summer Music Festival

    Finalist, Young Composer Awards (2020)

    May, 2020

    ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards

    Winner, Love of Learning Award (2019)

    Sep, 2019

    Phi Kappa Phi

    Selected Composer, Call for Scores (2019)

    Apr, 2019

    North/South Consonance

    Phi Kappa Phi (elected in spring 2018)

    Apr, 2018

    Phi Kappa Phi, UC Davis chapter

    Winner, Voices in Poetry Project Call for Scores (2017)

    Feb, 2017

    Vox Musica

    Graduate Scholars Fellowship (2016)

    Mar, 2016

    UC Davis

    Selected Composer, Call for Scores (2016)

    Feb, 2016

    New Music on the Bayou

    Individual Artist Grant (2015)

    Jun, 2015

    Illinois Arts Council

    Individual Artist Grant (2015)

    Jun, 2015

    Chicago DCASE

    Semifinalist (2015)

    May, 2015

    The American Prize

    Languages

    English

    Native Proficiency

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