Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Bailey.
Hi Sarah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I started piano lessons when I was in 8th grade. I ended up stopping these lessons to join the marching band. I was on the drum line for all four high school years while performing in the pep and concert bands. After graduating, I decided to join the marching band at Concord University. I changed my major to music – percussion performance and performed with the marching band, concert band, percussion ensemble, musical theater ensemble, and solo performance. After graduating, I moved home and played for various opportunities that arose. In May of 2022, I was recruited by the Pink Ladies, or Tia Woods and Patricia Wallen, and I’ve been performing with them ever since! Over the summer, I started giving private lessons to kids in my area, which I hope to continue!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Throughout college, I dealt with major self-confidence issues. Music is not a prominent field where I live, so I struggled with criticism for my choice of major and started to study music later in life. I had to work through these problems and realize I was just as capable as the other music students. I’m thankful for my professors that pushed me and encouraged me to get to where I am today. I spent many hours in the practice rooms. During my last semester of college, I spent my spring break at Concord to get the practice I needed for my senior recital. It was a hard road, but I’m thankful I continued to pursue music because I feel like myself when I’m playing, and I’ve met so many great people because of it!
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
Since graduating college, I have started to work in the public education system. I have taught music and social studies. Music education is hard, and only a few want to pursue it. I want to encourage students to develop their skills and continue performing and learning more about their instruments. I also teach private ukulele, piano, guitar, and drum lessons out of my house. This is new territory for me, but I love to see when kids “get” something that they’ve been having issues with or if new students realize that they just played a song. It keeps me motivated to keep going and continue to give these kids a chance to find the love for music that I have. While I enjoy teaching, I would ultimately like to pursue music business and am working towards my Master’s of Business Administration with a focus on Music Business. I hope to one day work in the marketing or production side of the music industry. I am most proud of continuing to push forward with music, even though I’ve had multiple instances where quitting would be easy. In 2018, I was in a bad car accident and severely injured my left arm. I couldn’t play for months, but I’m proud of myself for working through the pain and hardships and continuing to play.
How do you define success?
I define success as being satisfied with something you have been working on. If you are happy, you are successful. Some critics will tell you that something you have accomplished is not a success and that you need to work harder, but if you keep learning and growing, you are already successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/stereosarah
- Instagram: @stereotypicallysarah
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stereotypicallysarah
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/SarahBailey94
Image Credits
Headshot: Dylan Vidovich Photography
