Introduction to Music: Notes, Rhythms, Keys - Individual Lessons for Beginners

My name is Sabine, and I am a violinist and educator. I am a recent graduate of Boston University's School of Music, where I earned my Master of Music in Violin Performance. Prior to that, I attended Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, where I received a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in East Asian Studies (focusing on Chinese language and politics). As a solo performer, I pride myself on thoughtful interpretations and compelling performances. I am a lover of collaborative work and have performed extensively as a chamber musician in duos, string quartets, and piano trios, quartets, and quintets. I am also passionate about orchestral music; I have served in Concertmaster, Assistant Concertmaster, Principal Second, and Assistant Principal Second Violin roles for the Oberlin Orchestra and the Boston University Symphony Orchestra. I have recently performed in masterclasses for Rachel Barton Pine, Midori, Melissa White, Régis Pasquier, and the Emerson String Quartet, among others. I am currently pursuing a Performance Diploma in Violin Performance at Boston University.

As an educator, I have taught private violin lessons for many years to students of a wide range of ages, and I have tutored music theory and aural skill extensively. I took several pedagogy courses throughout my education and taught undergraduate Aural Skills at Boston University during the 2021-2022 school year. My goals as a teacher are to be kind, thoughtful, and effective. Every student is different in terms of their personality, level, and goals; some students just want to play for fun while others may want to take it more seriously. Thus, I cater each lesson toward the learner's individual needs. I strive to meet each student where they are and to help them create and work towards short and long-term goals. Each week's lesson builds on the previous week; we will frequently review topics to cement and deepen understanding, and I will introduce new details each week. 

I offer individual violin, music theory, and aural skills lessons to students ages 8 and up, and beginning music/note-reading lessons to students ages 7 and up. If your learner is younger than these ages, please feel free to send me a message to discuss. Complete beginners, as well as those with musical background are welcome! Violin concepts could range anywhere from holding the instrument and bow to performing concertos; music theory concepts could be anywhere from an introduction to music, reading notes on a staff and basic rhythms, to analyzing form & harmony, part-writing, and other collegiate-level theory subjects. 

I currently maintain a studio of about 30 students. Please reach out if you have any questions about my experience, approach, or classes!