My Musical and Teaching Journey

University Study

Sherilyn Coldwell graduated from Trinity University with a B.A and M.A. in piano performance where she studied with Andrew Mihalso and Karl Leifheit.

Collaborative Piano and Choral Performance

Sherilyn’s life has included rich and varied and musical performing experiences. During and after her graduation from Trinity, she did collaborative playing with faculty, students and ensembles in the Trinity Music Department and the San Antonio area with performances throughout the Southwest US and Mexico. For instance, she and Andrew Mihalso performed 4-hand recitals of standard literature and gems Mihalso found in the Library of Congress. Dr. Gene Carinci performed in Texas and Louisiana during which time they premiered the William Thornton Sonata for Saxophone and Piano, which was written for Gene. She was also a frequent accompanist for concerto competitions and senior voice and instrumental recitals, and played rehearsal piano for musicals in the San Antonio area.

Sherilyn’s musical life was greatly enriched by her choral work with the San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers and in the exceptional Alamo Heights Methodist Church Choir.

Teaching

Fascinated by how one learns, she has both studied piano pedagogy and educational methodology.

After leaving Trinity she chose to teach in the public schools, which she did for 4 years. During that time, she studied and applied the latest brain research in teaching elementary education and teaching gifted and talented students.

Piano Studio

Throughout the years, Sherilyn has always maintained a private studio. Along with her broad experience in the world of music performance, study and teaching she brings a deep love of music and an aspiration to open students of all ages to the possibilities of life enrichment and enjoyment through their study of piano. As the students grow in technique and musicianship, they are exposed to an understanding and appreciation of compositional techniques and stylistic interpretation. 

In 2004 Sherilyn became interested in the Suzuki method and started her training in all 7 books of the Suzuki Piano repertoire. She finds particular alignment with the Suzuki philosophy and finds the well-chosen Suzuki repertoire and starting one’s piano study by playing by ear gives her an opportunity to develop broad technical and musical skills from the beginning of a student’s experience.

Currently

Sherilyn and her dog, Max, moved to Longmont, Colorado from San Antonio, Texas in the spring of 2018. She continues to teach several students from her San Antonio studio online along in addition to her Boulder County studio. She enjoys hiking in the beautiful surrounding areas. She is actively engaged with the Boulder Morningstar Zen Sangha and is a fully ordained Rinzai Zen Priest