Inanna’s journey from student to teacher comes full circle

Clarence Valley Conservatorium’s newest member of the teaching team, Inanna Sage, has a special understanding of what her musical students are going through because up until a week prior to starting her new role, the Conservatorium’s only violin teacher was technically a student herself

“I finished university in Sydney one week, moved back home a few days later, and the following week started at the Conservatorium. It all happened very quickly,” the 23-yearold said.

While the jump from graduation to working life came quickly, Inanna’s path from student to qualified teacher was one of hard work and commitment.

Homeschooled in Nymboida alongside her twin brother and younger siblings, Inanna’s musical journey began quite late in the grand scheme of lessons but when she did take the leap, she was a passionate starter

“I learned piano from about 11 before moving onto violin at 15 but I genuinely wanted to learn at that stage, which can make a difference when it comes to sticking with music and taking it a little bit further.”

“Further” equated to about five years of tertiary music study

After achieving her Cert 4 Music Industry at Grafton TAFE (equivalent to HSC), Inanna spent a ‘ gap ’ year completing essay writing courses online before returning to TAFE to gaining a Diploma Music Industry.

She followed up with an online Diploma of Arts through University of New England at Armidale before moving down to Sydney to gain the theoretical and practical skills to complete her educational journey.

“I could do most of my study at home but for my Bachelor I wanted to have that in-person experience because everything so far had mostly been on online.”

Unfortunately, timing was not on Inanna’s side

After moving to Sydney she had barely hit the stage and the lecture rooms of the Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) in Surry Hills before COVID-19 arrived and sent her back to the computer screen.

“I stayed in Sydney for five months studying online during the lockdowns, when you couldn’t go further than 5kms from where you lived. Luckily, they could move the units around to push most of the performance elements out until we could go back onto campus. ”

Despite the disruption, Inanna finished her Bachelor Classical Music Performance (piano) in two years. “I enjoyed it but it was hard work. The classical genre is really intensive.”

While Inanna majored in piano, the inclusion of a second instrument as part of the degree meant she could continue pursuing her love of the violin.

“I will be teaching both but I’m the only violin teacher at Clarence Valley Conservatorium so they are holding a few of my spots open exclusively for that instrument.”

Teaching violin at the legendary Grafton musical institution has been quite a serendipitous journey for Inanna.

Not only is it where she refined her playing skills on the string instrument through lessons and ensemble performances, the teaching vacancy she is filling is that of her former teacher Cherry Collins.

“When she found out it was me coming back she was very excited. I felt a bit daunted replacing my teacher and trying to fill her big shoes, but everyone here has been so supportive about the transition.

“It’s a bit of a mental switch walking these halls as a student and now as a teacher, but I’m really looking forward to sharing what I have learned along the way with the next generation of students.”