About the Studio

A young woman with curly brown hair sitting on a wooden chair outdoors during sunset, holding a cello, with water and a sunset sky in the background.

“Beautiful heart, beautiful tone”

~ Dr. Suzuki

Hi! My name is Catherine, and I am a fellow Mainer and lover of music. I created Strings in Common to share and learn music with others in a fun, supportive environment. Before beginning this journey, I taught private and classroom music for five years. I am a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and hold a Bachelor of Cello Performance and a Master of Music Education degree. 

Strings in Common is here to serve music students of all ages and skill levels. Lessons are taught through the Suzuki model, which promotes peer learning and involved parents/caregivers. Students grow in a fun and positive learning environment achieved through private lessons, informed home practice, and group classes.

The studio's mission is to create a sustainable, lifelong connection to playing music and to the process of learning. This is achieved alongside fellow musicians within a culture of joyful music-making. We encourage a growth mindset and small, achievable steps to achieve outcomes. The studio provides the space, structure, and support to nurture well-rounded musicians and humans in the study of music and beyond. 

A young woman in a red dress with embroidered detail on the waist stands outdoors in a grassy area with green trees in the background. She has shoulder-length brown hair and is holding a black guitar case with the name 'Cibeles' on it.

“My daughter, Alex, was a beginning player, and Catherine guided her through the complexities of learning a new instrument. Alex was already a proficient guitar player, but the cello felt clumsy and different. Catherine’s pleasant style of teaching helped my daughter make remarkable improvements.”

— Skip, Parent