My name is Sarah Sponseller, and I have been playing the violin for 23 years. I asked for a violin for Christmas when I was four years old, and I have been playing ever since. I studied the Suzuki method through Book 5, and then I changed teachers and began a more traditional method of scales, etudes, and standard repertoire.
In high school, I was the concertmaster of the Wasatch High School Orchestra, as well as a member of the Utah Valley Youth Symphony. I was able to travel on tour to Seattle and Italy with the Symphony. I was the Music Sterling Scholar my senior year.
After a year at Utah State (where I was a member of the Cache Symphony Orchestra), I was accepted into the music program at UVU. After countless performances with the UVU Symphony, lessons with Dr. Donna Fairbanks, and two solo recitals, I graduated with my Bachelor's of Music in Violin Performance in 2014. From 2014-2017, I was a member of the Utah Valley Symphony.
I started teaching when I was 12 years old. Since then, I have always had at least one student. I began my studio in earnest in 2011, and it has steadily grown the past 6 years. In 2011, I also attended a Suzuki Teacher Workshop. I feel very comfortable teaching Suzuki books 1-5, and I have knowledge about other types of repertoire (I especially love Barbara Barber's Solos for Young Violinists). My true love and challenge is to tailor a method specific to each student. Some students don't care for classical music at all, and I love to search with them to find their niche -- be it fiddle/bluegrass, pop music, sacred music, or a combination of everything!
I have recently been spending time with my viola and mandolin. Because of the crossover techniques afforded to me by my nearly lifetime study of the violin, I am quite confident that I can teach basic techniques on both instruments.
I live in Midland, MI with my husband, 4-year-old twin boys, and baby girl. When I'm not teaching, I love cooking, reading, and seeing new places.
A few of my favorite solo pieces to date are:
Concerto in G Major (1st Mvmt.) by Haydn
John William's "Theme from Schindler's List"
Concerto in C Major by Kabalevsky
Sonata in C minor by Grieg
Preludio from Partita No. 3 in E Major by Bach
Example video of my playing (2014 Senior Recital, UVU): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsF57RiButs
No comments:
Post a Comment