Emma Sloan

Emma Sloan was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds her B.A. in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Brown University and M.S. in Environment and Sustainability from the University of Michigan. She has been playing fiddle for twenty years across a variety of trad genres including Irish, Old-Time, New England, Québécois, and Scandinavian. Emma’s current projects include a monthly waltz night at the Portland New Church and the contradance duo, Thistlebird.

Pronouns: she/her

Teaching Philosophy: My goal as a teacher is to foster lifelong confidence and curiosity. My teaching approach focuses on collaboration with my students to explore new skills through the styles/genres that interest them. I firmly believe that it is never too late to learn an instrument and I love creating spaces where people of all ages can explore the joys of creating music. My teaching aims to build fluency with your instrument in order to be comfortable playing in a variety of settings, working on both ear-training and sight-reading as well as performance skills and how to participate in group jams.

Music Influences: Gretchen Priest-May and Jocelyn Sprouse, my first fiddle/violin teachers, who gave me the diverse background and skills to play what I love; and Sandol Astrausky and Rory MacLeod, instructors of Brown University’s Old-Time String Band, who are reason I will love traditional community music for the rest of my life.

Artists on my top playlists are Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel, The Accidentals, Bedouine, Madison Cunningham, Norah Jones, Alisa Amador, Gordon Bok, The Pine Tree Flyers, Jake Blount, Adam Hurt, Nora Brown, Waxahatchee.

When I’m not making music: You can find me hiking or trail running with my chihuahua mix, working as a veterinary assistant, or sewing a new skirt or dress to wear to the next contra dance.

Favorite Place in Maine: Mackworth Island walks with my dog, Stevie Nicks.