The Full Story
About Sophie
I am an educator and cellist who moved her life from Scotland to America about 5 years ago. My experiences on both sides of the Atlantic inform both my teaching style and philosophy. I am passionate about learning and being the best educator I can be. My favorite thing about teaching is building communities of trust and seeing students flourish. Music has been a constant joy in my life and I enjoy sharing that with students from K-12 through to college.
History
During my undergraduate degree, I spent a summer working at the Fresh Air Fund in Fishkill, NY and then did a semester abroad at St Olaf College, MN. These experiences gave me a chance to interact with the US school system and fueled my interest in education.
I have taught private cello lessons for around 7 years developing curricula for student who ranged from 10 to 35 years old. I have supported students in their unique musical goals, from learning pop songs to play for their family members, to rekindling a love of music, to passing performance exams.
I also have experience teaching at the university level, having taught the undergraduate musicology sequence at the University of Denver. I believe in learning through critical inquiry and encourage my students in both academic and performance spaces to question why they learn what they do.
Balance
My research centers on education sustainability - specifically, how do students spend their time outside the classroom and why should I - the professor - know and care about their life. I consider the reasons why students still choose to pursue degrees in music and music education and how students value their studies. I also look at the impact education has on student health and why doing a degree in music may not always be healthy for students.
With these research goals in mind, I try to practice what I preach. I find setting my own boundaries as an educator to be important and modelling a balanced lifestyle is something I try to do when teaching at all levels. I am a novice birdwatcher and can often be found scanning the tree line for new bird species. I also enjoy cross stitching and baking in my spare time. I try to be realistic with my students about our capacities as musicians and human beings in order to create a safe space for students to say 'no'.
