Sandra Stram:  

Life Greetings from beautiful San Diego! I moved here w/ a few friends after graduation. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do - just go to CA and go to college somewhere. Eventually I went to San Diego State and majored in music. Held a series of jobs, including dishwasher and waitress, but my eventual involvement in tutoring and music coaching led me into teaching - a path I had not really ever considered. I've been teaching music as an orchestra specialist in a district near the Mexican border for 16 years. I was lucky to get a chance to teach in a more affluent district a few years ago, but got laid off last year due to budget cuts, so then I had to go back about 3 miles from the border. Bummer! In 2004 I got a job teaching string instruments for San Diego City Schools and I like it. Now I teach in elementary school and the kids are so cute - even if they sound like beginners. In college I got real into "early music" and that has been one focus in my life. I play many old instruments and have been in several Renaissance and Baroque music groups. Currently I'm in a group called Courtly Noyse. I went back to school and got a master's degree in Viola da Gamba performance. Through a boyfriend I got introduced to Cajun/Zydeco music and dance in 1997. It's got its own social scene all over the world. I have been playing fiddle in the band Zydeco Patrol (see website for details)for the pa...Expand for more