• About
  • Reviews
  • Blog/FAQ
  • Services
  • Practice Tips
  • Resources
  • Tuition
  • Studio Policies
  • Contact

Music By Sarah

  • About
  • Reviews
  • Blog/FAQ
  • Services
  • Practice Tips
  • Resources
  • Tuition
  • Studio Policies
  • Contact

Engaging, holistic online beginner music, piano, & guitar lessons for students ages 6+ anywhere in the world!

BOOK NOW

Hi! I'm Sarah of Music By Sarah. I look forward to joining you on your virtual musical journey! I'm a full-time touring singer/songwriter and I also teach beginner online music lessons to students of all ages (including adults!) - and students who are "beginning again" after a long break from music lessons, or maybe played another instrument in the past - for guitar, piano, songwriting, and general music. I love bringing my real-world performance experience to the virtual classroom and creating a fun, engaging, and relevant musical space for all students. 

I specialize in beginner online guitar lessons (ages 8+), beginner online piano lessons (ages 5+), and online singing lessons (ages 8+). As an award-winning songwriter and performer, I also offer songwriting and music theory lessons as well as general music, audition prep, music appreciation, active listening, and performance coaching for all ages and levels.

I'm passionate about supporting women and girls in music, and I'm very patient with new beginners of all ages (including adults and students who are "beginning again" after a long break!) - we were all there once! From my first guitar student in 2008, I've enjoyed sharing my love of music with students around the world with online music lessons. I strive to be both the teacher and the adult I wish had been available to me as a young musician with big dreams.

 When I'm not teaching, I'm usually performing, hiking, riding horses, cooking, or cuddling the nearest dog/cat/horse/any other pet. Your pets are always welcome to sit in on our lessons!

EDUCATION:   

Bachelor of Arts in Music Management, Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY  

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: 

Women In Music member, 2019 - present

Americana Music Association member, 2020 - present

D'Addario Education Collective member, 2014 - present

D'Addario Foundation Board Member, 2014 - present, dedicated to bringing sustainable music education to students around the world 

SESAC (performing rights organization) member  2009 - present

Music Teachers National Association, member 2009 - present

AWARDS:

2022 Folk Alliance International Official Showcase Artist

2021 New England Music Awards Songwriter of the Year

Feb 21 2023

FAQ: I'm a TOTAL beginner! Do you REALLY focus on beginner students?

As more adults express a new interest in learning music in recent years, I've gotten this question pretty often, and it's one of my favorites to answer! I do indeed focus almost completely on teaching beginning students - and I…

Read more

May 5 2022

FAQ: Can we have in-person lessons again?

I've been getting this question more recently as everyone is excited to move into a post-pandemic world. However, my teaching studio has permanently shifted to an exclusively online model, for a variety of reasons I'll share below. There may be…

Read more

Apr 13 2022

What does tuition cover? Are there any other costs we should know about?

I'm glad you asked! Every studio and teacher has different policies, and it's important to know what to expect when you're investing in music lessons. 

I review what's INCLUDED in tuition costs on my Tuition page - here's a…

Read more

Feb 23 2022

What do I need to take online music lessons?

Students often ask what they need to get started with online lessons, so here's a quick rundown of the basics!

Computer (or other device with camera)

A computer works best here as you can adjust sound settings on Zoom to…

Read more

Feb 16 2022

FAQ: What's the yearly schedule? Do you teach during summer or school breaks?

I get this question a LOT, so let's jump in!

The Basics

  • I take off the week between Christmas and New Years.
  • I do teach throughout the summer, as long as I'm home! Lessons are available year-round.
  • I usually teach…
Read more

Nov 18 2021

UPDATED: Optimal Zoom Settings for Online Music Lessons

Zoom recently made some audio updates that have made lessons challenging! Here's an update on ideal Zoom settings:

As many of us have discovered, Zoom wasn't designed with music in mind. In fact, Zoom's default settings tend to distort or…

Read more

Nov 3 2021

What's the deal with affiliate links?

As you have may have noticed, I have "affiliate link" noted on my site when I mention method books I use. As an independent musician and music teacher, I'm part of the Amazon Associates program, where I can earn a…

Read more

Jul 29 2021

Online Lessons

Technology has allowed me to continue teaching students when geography or health made it impossible, and it's also enabled me to share my love of music with students I otherwise would never have met. I'm happy to use technology to…

Read more

May 18 2021

FAQ: What methods do you use to teach?

I'm glad you asked! I incorporate a variety of teaching methods into my curriculum, and often combine more than one in lessons. Learning music isn't a "one size fits all" journey, and I strive to utilize the best materials for…

Read more

May 4 2021

FAQ: My child didn't play that piece perfectly - why did you let it slide?

The title says it all, and I'm overdue to address this question - it's SO important to my teaching philosophy, and I'm happy to discuss in-depth.

My goal as a teacher is to impart a sense of excitement and understanding…

Read more

Dec 18 2020

Updated Tuition Payment Policies for Online Lessons - 2021

When we're making music in person, it's usually pretty straightforward at the start of the month when we figure out together how many lessons to plan for and what the tuition will be for the month. I leave that first…

Read more

Dec 16 2020

FAQ: But I don't WANT to play piano today, online edition

I've transitioned entirely to online lessons this year, and overall it's worked out great - students are still learning and building skills, and we're using technology to stay connected.

Teaching online is a little different since I'm not there in…

Read more

Nov 13 2020

Can you teach this instrument: Online edition

One positive that's come out of this year is many students of all ages are finding the time to learn music - and since I'm not traveling between students, I actually have more students now than I did in-person! 

With…

Read more

Aug 14 2020

Music Lessons for Fall 2020

Hello current and prospective students!

I was talking with my husband this week about how happy I am teaching - how genuinely excited I get each time students learn a new concept - and how thankful I am to be…

Read more

Mar 25 2020

COVID19 Studio Policy Updates

Vermont is now under a "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order due to COVID19. This minimizes all non-essential activities outside the home, and music lessons are not considered essential. Although I teach in my students' homes, for now it is my…

Read more

Jan 3 2020

FAQ: Can we come to your studio?

I currently operate with a mobile teaching studio - this means I come to you and teach music lessons in your home. This also means I don't have a studio for you to come to at this time. Over the…

Read more

Dec 29 2019

FAQ: Are Private Music Lessons Right For Me/My Kids?

I LOVE music, and I love sharing my love of music with others. I say nearly every day I have the best job in the world! Helping inspire others to learn and grow musically is amazing. Here are some factors…

Read more

Dec 22 2019

FAQ: Can you teach this instrument?

I love living in a small community - knowing someone else can check on our cats or let us borrow a ladder without a second thought is great! One of the downfalls of living in a small community can be…

Read more

Sep 10 2019

FAQ: How Do I Help My Child Succeed With Lessons?

We're all different - we like different music, we learn differently, we think differently. That's why - although I often use the same method for many students - I tailor my lessons to the student's needs and goals. However, I…

Read more

Mar 26 2019

FAQ: How Do Online Lessons Work?

I now offer online lessons for students in any location, as well as in-person students who may have weather- or illness-related cancellations. This allows us to keep progressing with music, even when the climate or immune systems don't want to…

Read more

Mar 19 2019

FAQ: How Young is Too Young for Music Lessons?

My first guitar student was 8 years old and I still remember those early lessons with her, when progress seemed slow, and I wasn't sure whether she was actually having fun. I'm happy to report now she's in college and…

Read more

Feb 10 2019

NEW 2019 Weather & Illness Cancellation Policies - all students please read!

Since I've been teaching music in rural Vermont, I've discovered weather and illness can have a much larger impact here than in my previous locations! Weather and illness are out of our control, and as such, there is NO CHARGE…

Read more

Jan 9 2019

FAQ: But I Don't WANT to Play Piano Today!

It's the statement parents and teachers often dread: "but I don't WANNA do it!" What happens when I've arrived for the lesson and that's the first thing we hear?

Consider the "Why"

As noted in my previous post…

Read more

Dec 6 2018

FAQ: Talking During Music Lessons

"My child seems to be talking a lot during her lesson!"

"I'm not sure why he's so chatty, please feel free to tell him to focus!" 

I've heard a lot of comments relating to talking during music lessons…

Read more
View all posts
  • Log out
Powered by Bandzoogle