Education

Sally Terris holds a BA in Music (voice) and Physics from Dartmouth College and an MM in Musicology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is also a registered recorder teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Sally has studied recorder with Judith Linsenberg, Mary Halverson Waldo, Katherine White, and Marion Rubinstein, and has taken workshops/master classes with Frances Blaker, Patrick O’Malley, William Starr, Drew Minter and others.

Performing and Teaching Experience

Sally has taught classes, private lessons, workshops and camps to students of all ages (3 to 80+) both at CSMA and in Mountain View elementary schools. In addition, she had extensive teaching experience in graduate school and has given workshops for parents about integrating music into their children’s lives.

Sally currently is a member of Recorder Journey, a trio that performs repertoire from all eras and cultures, with a particular interest in medieval, contemporary and non-Western music. She is also a singer, specializing in music from the medieval through baroque eras.

At CSMA

Sally has been on the CSMA Music Faculty since 1990. She developed the Music Theory Program and was Music Theory Coordinator from 1996-2006. She was also the director of the CSMA Suzuki Institute for Recorder from 2005-2007. She has taught theory (classes and private), recorder (classes and private, traditional and Suzuki), Musicianship for Singers, Music Explorer, and Back to the Baroque summer camp. She currently teaches recorder and Suzuki Recorder and is the Merit Scholarship Ensemble Coordinator. She is also the Faculty Advisor for the CSMA Early Music Minstrels.

As a faculty member of CSMA’s Music in the Schools Program from 1990 to 2010, Sally taught 3rd through 5th grade music (Music4Schools and recorder) at local elementary schools. In addition to teaching, Sally was responsible for teacher training and curriculum development, and was the co-author of the Music in Action book series Music of the US and Understanding Cultures through Their Music. She continues to mentor Music in the Schools teachers.

In 2007 Sally received CSMA’s ArtSalute Outstanding Music Teacher award.

Teaching Philosophy and Approach

"My students work at their own pace, in a warm, encouraging environment, with a curriculum tailored to their needs and interests. I emphasize musicianship, correct technique, healthy posture, musical expression and the development of listening skills. I encourage participation in theory classes, recitals, workshops, Suzuki group classes, Suzuki Institutes, ABRSM exams and ensemble playing.  I believe that music education gives students tools that reach far beyond playing an instrument, including body awareness, the ability to solve problems and learn new skills by breaking tasks down into small steps, the confidence to appear before large groups with poise, and the willingness to listen to and work with others.”

For her private recorder studio, children ages 3 to 6 are required to follow the Suzuki Recorder Method (for which additional information is available in the office or by contacting Sally Terris at sterris@arts4all.org); children ages 7 and up and adults may choose between Suzuki and traditional methods, or follow a combination of both.

Personal

Sally enjoys reading, knitting and digital photography.