New UT Elementary music teacher Sarah Uy is uniquely qualified for the job. Growing up in Chicago, her own musical journey began at age five with the Suzuki method—the same approach used in UT Elementary’s Musical Lives program.
“When I first started playing violin, I was five, and it was the same program, the same teaching method,” she explains. “It was very common to see three-year-olds with violins. So, I know what elementary school students are capable of.”
Building Roots in Austin
Uy studied violin at UT under the mentorship of Professor Sandy Yamamoto in the Butler School of Music. After earning her bachelor’s degree and teacher certification, she made the decision to stay in Austin.
“I decided to stay here because a lot of my mentors are here in Austin, and I felt like I would be more supported if I stayed close by,” she explained.
After graduation, Uy taught at AISD’s O’Henry Middle School and Matthews Elementary School until a chance encounter with former UT Elementary music teacher AJ Marks.
Uy knew Marks through their work with the UT String Project and Austin Youth Orchestra. He was leaving the school to work on his doctorate and mentioned the job opening to her. They met with Dr. Laurie Scott who implemented and shepherded UT Elementary’s music program from the beginning.
“I know that UT Elementary is a joyful learning community where teachers work together as a collaborative team to create safe, creative, and effective approaches to skill development. Our music program has consistently been staffed with teachers whom I recognized as individuals who would contribute meaningfully to this community of caring, dedicated adults.” Dr. Scott explained.
“As an outreach initiative of the UT String Project, all of our former teachers have brought with them valuable experience from that program. This background has provided them with a unique depth of skill in working across diverse settings—an asset that many teachers do not have when beginning a new position.
Ms. Uy was the perfect choice to continue this succession of outstanding musicians and educators. She sustains the tradition of excellence already established while also opening new pathways for creative music making. She is an exceptional musician, a skilled educator, and a compassionate individual who recognizes and nurtures the creative potential in every child.”
What she learned immediately captured her attention. “I was like, ‘Oh, this is so special.’ I had never heard of a school that started all strings in the second grade. And then the fact that you can also choose between orchestra and music production as well is very cool to me.”
Her experience teaching elementary-age students, combined with her middle school orchestra background, gave her confidence that this would be “a very fun challenge and one that is very familiar and close to my heart.”
Expanding Musical Horizons for UT Elementary Students
One aspect of her new role particularly excites Uy: music production. “Music production classes usually don’t start for anybody until college. You do not see it in K through 12 education a lot of the time,” she notes. “So, it’s really, truly a unique and awesome opportunity.”
She also sees the long-term value for students: “Those students who are in music production can take those composition skills, and there are a lot of free, great composition and music production programs for them to keep up with their passions even after they graduate from UT. They can always keep that knowledge and skill set.”
Uy, who enjoys many types of music from K-pop to chamber music, is also enthusiastic about cross-curricular collaboration with UT Elementary’s team of specialist teachers. Currently, she is working with Mrs. Herrera, the Spanish teacher, to explore Latin American instruments and prominent musicians. She’s also looking forward to continuing the ‘Stusic Project’, a collaboration between music production students and video creation in STEAM class.
Teaching music at UT Elementary represents more than a job for Uy—it’s a homecoming to the kind of nurturing, comprehensive musical education that has shaped her life.
“As long as you are involved in music, no matter what shape or form, or you learn how to appreciate it, then you’re going to become a more well-rounded person,” she says.
