teaching studio
sorcha | teaching artist bio
Sorcha Cribben-Merrill is a performer, songwriter, and teaching artist encouraging creative expression and creating meaningful connections through music and songwriting. She is founder of Sorcha Studio, a music and songwriting teaching studio in Portland, Maine offering music and songwriting lessons, classes, and workshops.
As an arts in health advocate, the transformative power of music is at the heart of her work. Through Community Music programs and partnerships, she facilitates Singing with Seniors, offering interactive performances for Older Adults and Memory Care audiences. Collaborative songwriting is the focus of her partnership with The Lullaby Project, a Carnegie Hall program that pairs professional musicians with new mothers and caregivers to write and record lullabies for their babies.
Sorcha co-created a music and literacy program for the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, and has taught early childhood music classes at Breakwater School in Portland, ME and 317 Main Community Music Center in Yarmouth, ME, where she also taught guitar and ukulele lessons for all ages and facilitated songwriting workshops. She is currently completing a Community Health Musician Certificate Program through Berklee’s Music and Health Institute, in Boston, MA.
Teaching Approach
Through song learning and skill building activities, students develop their innate creativity and style, learn foundational music skills, understand music theory basics and how to apply them, and strengthen musical confidence. I tailor lessons to each student’s skills and interests, and we may incorporate singing, percussion, piano, or songwriting as learning tools. Beginners welcome.
