We were lucky to catch up with Sarah King recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I had always loved music, but it wasn’t until a distinct moment in a rehearsal where I realized it could be more. I was a freshman in high school and it was the first marching band rehearsal of the year for our show, “West Side Story.” It was the first time I had played with a group of that caliber, and I didn’t know what to expect. As we played the first chord of the song, the room started vibrating with sound and I was blown away. I got goosebumps and thought to myself, “This is amazing.” As the years went on, it became clear that music was what I was passionate about and what I wanted to do with my life.

Sarah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started playing the alto saxophone when I was 10 years old. When I was 16, my band director asked me to learn the clarinet for a song that we would play in jazz band the following school year. I spent the whole summer learning the clarinet, fell in love with it, and decided to make it my primary instrument going forward. Two years later I attended Drake University, earning a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance. After college, I wanted to continue playing, but I also wanted to start teaching. In 2021, I moved back to Cedar Rapids, IA and started my own private studio. I now teach saxophone, clarinet, and flute lessons to students of various ages and skill levels.

As musicians, we are constantly faced with challenges. As a teacher, I want to give my students the tools to be able to overcome those challenges. My goal is not to just go through a lesson book, assign songs, tell students to practice, and send them on their way week in and week out. My goal is to teach them valuable information about their instrument, how to diagnose and solve problems while playing, practice and performance techniques, and encourage them to be the best musician they can possibly be. I don’t believe the job of a music teacher is to herd cattle. I believe it’s to meet each student where they’re at and form a plan that works best for each individual. If someone chooses me as their private instructor, that’s what they will receive from me. I’m proud of each and every one of my students, and it’s a privilege to watch them work hard, have fun, and grow as musicians.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I don’t think a lot of people realize what goes into being a musician. Some of our work includes playing gigs, performing solos, playing in ensembles, etc. However, the majority of the work happens behind closed doors in the form of practice. The only way to improve as a musician, or really at anything, is to practice. Growing up, I didn’t have a part time job because my “job” was to practice my instruments. Most of my family and friends didn’t understand that this was a form of work. Fortunately for me, I had parents who understood and supported me in that regard, and encouraged me to pour everything into what I was passionate about. They are one of the biggest reasons I am here today. Without their support, my life wouldn’t look like it does right now.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Over the last few months, I’ve been getting into TikTok! I have a page dedicated to woodwind tips, tricks, product reviews, and so much more. One of my most viral videos about reeds has over 350k views. Can you believe it? Reeds? I think it’s awesome. I used to do social media for other businesses, and I’d always try to figure out the algorithm. Use the viral sounds, post funny things, stay up to date with trends, etc. it worked, but it was nothing special. I wanted to try a different approach with my personal TikTok. I decided to just do what I love to do, which is play and teach! So, I made short tutorials and talked about things that can help players improve, and it blew up. I now get thousands of views on every video and my followers grow by the day! My biggest piece of advice for anyone trying to build their audience on social media is to be authentic. Show people what you love to do, why you love to do it, and see what happens.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.skmusiclessons.com
• Instagram: sarahpracticesclarinet
• Facebook: Sarah King Music Lessons (https://www.facebook.com/skmusiclessons)
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-king-8300559a
• TikTok: sarahpracticesclarinet

Image Credits
Jenaya Michelle Photography