How it started...
Way back in 2017, when skinny jeans were still in and Christin's hair was still blue,
we (Sarah, flute, and Christin, soprano) launched two independent studios, right from Sarah's kitchen table,
and we co-branded them as Sand Dollar Music.
Our belief was that music, performing, and business are all best when shared with friends...
...and, almost 10 years later, it's pretty clear that we were absolutely right. :)
Through countless highs, lows, goodbyes, and hellos, Sand Dollar has remained constant, and we are so thankful
for our wonderful team and students and for the opportunity to daily live out
our belief that we (and all musicians) are better together.
Who we are...
Co-Founder; Voice & Piano Studios Director
Ashley Jones
Soprano Christin Coffee Rondeau is obsessed with voices. Hers. Yours. Everyone’s. What makes them soar, shine, and sparkle. A warm and versatile performer, her repertoire spans from art song to musical theatre to opera to jazz standards. She holds a Bachelor of Music (Mercer University) and a Master of Music (Miami University) in vocal performance, along with certifications in Orff Schulwerk and Estill. From soloing with the Cincinnati Pops to preparing small recitals of weird new music to cantoring for her church, she simply loves using her voice to tell stories and make people happy.
She has presented for The National Association of Teachers of Singing and The SpeakEasy Cooperative on topics ranging from collaborative voice teaching to marketing, editing, copy writing, and branding. Her writing has been featured in the 4th Edition of Dr. Robert Sataloff's "Professional Voice: The Science and Art of Clinical Care," in several NATS Inter Nos issues, and at The Full Voice. She has also been a guest on The Full Voice, The Voice Culture, and Vocal Fri podcasts. Christin is co-founder of Sand Dollar Music in Dayton, Ohio where she mentors both singers and voice teachers, helping them develop the skills they need to make the music they love.
When she’s not singing, teaching singing, or teaching singing teachers, Christin is homeschooling her kids or ambling through the woods like a very small ogre.
Click here for performance resume.
Co-Founder; Instrumental Studios Director
Don Francis
Sarah Robertson holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Indiana University of South Bend and a Master of Music in Music Education from Wright State University. She has over twenty years of professional experience as a performer, conductor, freelance musician, solo and ensemble adjudicator, and music educator. Sarah has worked as a pre-k-6th grade music teacher, 5-12 band director, MS choir director, and served on the adjunct faculty at Edison Community College.
Sarah loves performing, and in 2019, she founded her flute trio, Syrodesy, a sought-after group in the Dayton and surrounding areas due to their unique programming and style. In 2020, Syrodesy traveled to Virginia to perform at the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention. Sarah loves collaborating with fellow musicians and creating performances that captivate audiences. She also plays in the Springboro Wind Symphony, subs in the Kettering Praise Orchestra, and plays frequently in local pit orchestras.
Teaching brings incredible joy to Sarah. Whether she’s teaching a private lesson, flute choir, group class, masterclass, studio class, or workshop, her goal is to let her students take ownership of their music and musicality! She is well-versed in the most current flute curriculum and is known for creating a lesson environment centered on each student’s learning style, both in group classes and private lessons. Her students often advance to semi-final and final rounds in a variety of competitions, including Sound Espressivo, PANdemonium4, COFA, the Utah Flute Association Sonata Competition, and Floot Fire. Her highly-disciplined and motivated students often perform in local and state honor bands like the Wright State Honor band, District XIII Honor Band, and the prestigious Ohio All-State Honor Band.
Sarah has been featured on the Flute 360 and Full Voice podcasts, and in 2021, she was interviewed by Sound Espressivo. She is sought after as a clinician, specializing in young learners and music and movement in private lessons. Sarah is a regular contributor to Little Flute Magazine, a quarterly magazine that is translated into numerous languages and distributed throughout the world. Her professional affiliations and certifications include the National Flute Association, Kinderflute, The Flute Society of Washington, Flute Play, and the Dayton Music Club. She also serves as secretary on the board of the Springboro Wind Symphony. When not teaching or performing, you can find her playing with her two boys, running, hiking the trails of Ohio, and biking with her family. Contact Sarah at sarah@sanddollarmusic.com.