Every month, we like to spotlight one of our incredible Elemental Music teachers. Some of them have been teaching with us for close to a decade while others might be in their first year of working for our organization, but there is one thing that all of our teachers have in common: their dedication to the young musicians in our programs.
This month, we are featuring Caitlin Smith, a talented violin and viola teacher at Elemental Music. With a rich background in performing for recording sessions and concerts, as well as her work in folk/pop and experimental jazz, Caitlin’s diverse musical experiences shine through in her teaching. Fun fact: Caitlin is an alumna of Elemental Strings! We are thrilled to have her in our community now as a teacher - inspiring the next generation of young musicians!
Elemental Music: How long have you been teaching for Elemental Music? Can you tell us a little bit about your history with the organization?
Caitlin Smith: I’ve been with Elemental Music for about two years. I started as an occasional substitute teacher for the Elemental Strings after-school orchestra program, which became more frequent during the winter months as many people were still contracting COVID-19. It seemed to be a great fit from the start - the kids and I got along well, and I genuinely enjoyed the work.
EM: How did you get started in music?
CS: I played some piano at age seven, but quit once I fell in love with viola in fourth grade through the SMMUSD music program. From then on, music extracurriculars ruled my life all the way into adulthood. My familiarity with music became the lens through which I could understand and connect with the world.
EM: What is one of your favorite musical memories?
CS: One of my earliest and favorite musical memories is actually from one of the first full ensemble Elemental Strings rehearsals. We weren’t performing for an audience, yet it was so exhilarating we may as well have been. I was so young and felt completely fulfilled in those moments, just playing the viola part for Siennicki’s Frog in a Tree—hearing how each part blended with the lower and higher registers, feeling excited yet surprised by the added harmonies I was hearing for the first time.
EM: What inspired you to teach in addition to performing?
CS: I find myself more personally motivated to share the gift of performing rather than performing (just for myself). While it started as a means of extra income, I ended up finding more joy in teaching than I ever imagined having in any other occupation. It felt truly fulfilling to give back and to be able to help or inspire others—especially children who are still finding their place in the world, hopefully making meaning through the musical lens we get to share.
EM: What is it like for you to teach at Elemental Music, especially considering you were once a student in the Elemental Strings program?
CS: It’s incredible to see how much the program has grown. I was in fifth grade when I participated in the program, and I clearly remember loving the experience more than any other group at the time. It fills me with joy to see so many more students get to have that same experience, and in even larger capacities (whether that’s band, choir, guitar, small and large ensembles, or even middle and high school groups!).
EM: As a teacher who emphasizes ear training, how do you help students develop a strong sense of musical ear, and why is it important for their overall musicianship?
CS: I constantly check in with my students to make sure they can actually hear what we’re learning. If a sound doesn’t resonate with them personally, it’s easy to feel a disconnect from the music. To make ear training feel valuable (and relevant), I give them opportunities during lessons to play or mimic pitches by ear, or even learn parts of songs without sheet music—as a game or a tool for memorization (whether it’s scales, pieces, etc.). It’s important, now more than ever, to provide students a bridge between their classical music education and their personal musical interests. That way, we can show how music education remains meaningful and connected with our current generation and diverse cultures.
EM: If you could give our students one piece of advice, musical or otherwise, what would it be?
CS: Enjoy learning for learning’s sake, and music for music’s sake, as much as you can... before you grow up and start needing to worry about other grown-up things! Music, like many crafts, is a bit like riding a bicycle: if you practice it now, you’ll have access to it for life.
EM: Is there anything else you’d like to add that you think might be interesting for our community?
CS: It’s a common misconception that practicing one’s specific instrument is a “waste of time” if someone’s interests lie elsewhere—whether that’s another instrument, another genre, or even a completely different field. What we often fail to recognize is that most of the skills we develop through music are transferable, whether it’s muscle-memory, technique, intonation, or work ethic. No musical learning experience is ever wasted, unless we decide that it is.