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Bachelor Degree: Stetson University
2015 - Duckwitz Talent Scholarship
2015 - John Phillip Sousa Award
2015 - Outstanding Musician
2019 - Dean's List - Stetson University
Hi! My name is Sarah and I am passionate about all things music. I am a graduate of Stetson University's prestigious School of Music and clarinet studio, where I pursued my Bachelor's in Clarinet Performance with a minor in Business Administration. Having a well-rounded education is very important to me and I am grateful to have received what I did. I have experience in Symphonic Bands, Orchestras, Marching Band, Chamber groups, and Operas, on Bb, A, Bass, and Eb clarinet, and on Saxophone and flute as well in various gigs and jazz ensembles.
I grew up taking private clarinet lessons in the Seminole county area, all the way through high school before I studied under Dr. Lynn Musco and Mrs. Jessica Speak at Stetson University. While pursuing my studies, I took various pedagogical classes such as Woodwind methods, and Pedagogy for Musicians, both of which I received A+'s in for my final grade. As mentioned in my bio, I have a diverse and long list of performance history as well (my recent senior recital is linked to my profile). These includes, but are not limited too, performing in various symphonies and operas, which involved hours of daily practice to achieve musical success.
For students who are just starting out, I start with basic finger and breath support exercises. Once these become ingrained in the student's mind, I will introduce various excerpts based on their skill level, eventually working our way into solo repertoire. For students that have a few years under their belt, I prefer to get a grasp on what their strength and weaknesses are to assess what I can be of service, to select the solo or excerpt book that would best help improve their already developing talents. The same can be said for the more advanced students, looking for new challenges and improvement.
The best thing about teaching is, by far, seeing the improvement and motivation within your student. I have found through my past experiences, that when my teacher is truly dedicated to their craft, and wants their student to succeed, the more successful both parties are. I believe in encouragement, but while also correcting when needed. In my studio, I hope to create a safe learning environment where mistakes are not just encouraged, but celebrated. This is because, the only way improvements can be made and applied, is when we realize, and acknowledge that mistakes will occur, and that's okay.