“For more than ten years, I have known Sarah Cantor as a private instructor, an ensemble coach, a leader of music workshops, and a recorder virtuoso. In private lessons and in group settings, Sarah’s skillful and inspired coaching has enriched my musical life and those of many other students.
“Sarah is an accomplished and ambitious performer, but, unlike some talented musicians, she is also an outstanding teacher. She treats beginning players with the same dignity, respect, attention, and enthusiasm she gives to those more advanced. From personal experience in Sarah’s ensembles, I know that Sarah’s musical insights span the spectrum of early music as well as early instruments: recorders of all kinds, flutes, plucked and bowed strings, harpsichord, voice.
“Sarah derives satisfaction not only from creating beautiful music, but also from helping her students work through technical or musical problems at their own levels. I have never seen Sarah bored or frustrated or anything less than fully engaged in working with an individual or an ensemble. She understands the dynamics of groups that comprise diverse personalities, ages, and levels of experience, and ensures that everyone is learning and involved in the process of music-making. Through her infectious warmth and good humor, her patience and persistence, her attention to details of technique and musicality, her recognition of the strengths and weaknesses and individuality of each player, she challenges us to stretch beyond what we thought we could achieve, and leaves us encouraged, enriched, inspired, and humming happily.”
Daniel Ozick Newton, MA
“Sarah is a patient, enthusiastic teacher. Her classes and ensembles contain a nice mixture of instruction/drills and opportunities to play beautiful music. She is very articulate, having the ability to not only demonstrate how something should be played but to also describe it in meaningful terms. Sarah challenges her students and provides an environment in which to learn and have fun in the process.”
Barbara Allen Cambridge, MA
“Sarah has a balanced approach that allows you to experiment and learn as you go. A low-pressure attitude that allows you to discover new ways of playing for yourself, but also with good guidance and necessary corrections. Under her tutelage I found I was able to solve a problem playing in the upper register that I had never been able to overcome in the past. I’d recommend her to anyone who is interested in becoming more proficient on the recorder.”
Brian Warnock Jamaica Plain, MA
“I always enjoy participating in sessions Sarah Cantor coaches for several local recorder societies. Her repertoire is always appealing, and Sarah brings out the best in players with her attention to technique and musicality. Her style is good-humored and patient, but at the same time she sets the bar high. I’ve also studied privately with Sarah and my playing has benefited, especially from working with her on phrasing and style, in both Renaissance and Baroque music.”
Jennifer Smith Lexington, MA
“I started taking recorder lessons with Sarah about two years ago as a total beginner. Sarah grouped several new players into an ensemble about a year ago, and we can all now play soprano, alto, tenor and bass recorders. Sarah is a wonderful teacher — very encouraging and patient. She strikes a great balance of getting you playing beautiful
music right away while teaching the more technical aspects of recorder playing along the way.”
Sarah Rainwater Ward Cambridge, MA