Rebecca S.

Music has always been a big part of my life, starting with classical piano, which I began at age 8, taking private lessons from a professor at the University of Tennessee.  Later on, in my teens, my interests shifted to strings and traditional Appalachian and Celtic music.  I learned from many people, including bluegrass musician Justin Moses and as a student of Jim Wood at the Jim and Inge Wood School of Music.  As a young adult, I worked as a volunteer interpreter at Cade’s Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, doing demonstrations and teaching park visitors about Appalachian music.  I have played professionally for weddings and other events, in restaurant house bands, as well as at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, TN.  I have led traditional music demonstrations for public school classes, in addition to teaching in-person for many years. I have been teaching virtually for the past two years.

I am passionate about introducing people to traditional Appalachian and Celtic music and helping them perfect their skills!

I see each learner as a unique individual and cater my teaching approach to best suit their needs and interests.  Although I can use method books when desired, for all instruments except piano I prefer to follow the individual needs and interests of my students.  On strings instruments I prefer to use standard notation or teach students to play by ear, avoiding tablature if possible.