teaching artist bio

Sorcha Cribben-Merrill is a Performing Songwriter, Teaching Artist, and Community Health Musician working at the intersection of music, education, and creative health. Sorcha engages people in music making across the lifespan — from lullaby writing with new parents to interactive concerts with Older Adults. She partners with Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project and numerous Senior Care centers throughout Maine. For Youth and Adults, she teaches music lessons, songwriting programs, and creative focus through her Portland, Maine Music Teaching Studio.

She recently completed the Community Health Musician Certificate Program through Berklee School of Music (2025). Sorcha has co-created a music and literacy program for the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine and taught early childhood music classes at Breakwater School (Portland, ME) and 317 Main Community Music Center (Yarmouth, ME), where she also taught Guitar and Songwriting programs for Teens and Adults.

Devoted to interdisciplinary work, Sorcha earned her BA from Skidmore College (2003) in Anthropology with a Music Minor, including studies at University College Cork in Ireland. She studied classical guitar, music performance (solo and with vocal & guitar ensembles), and the intersections of music, art, and culture. Across her Music Programs, Sorcha witnesses the many benefits of engaging in music — parent-child bonding, improved confidence and resilience, boosted memory and immune system health, stress relief and comfort, and overall wellbeing. These themes are also echoed in Sorcha’s original songs, which she shares through album recordings, film soundtracks, and live performances throughout New England.

my TEACHING approach

music exploration FRAMEWORK + applied theory

We are all innately creative. This belief is at the heart of my music and creative arts programming. My Music Exploration framework encourages creative expression while building foundational music skills.

  • Through song learning and skill building activities, Music & Songwriting students develop their innate creativity and style, strengthen musical confidence, and apply music theory concepts.

  • Creative Focus students apply the Music Exploration framework and values-based strategic planning concepts to their individual creative projects and practices.

  • Community Music Program participants engage in music through shared singing, songwriting, listening, and creative arts activities to support overall wellbeing.

I tailor my music lessons and programs to support each student or participant’s interests and learning styles. We often incorporate singing, percussion, piano, or songwriting as learning tools. We explore a range of musical elements: musicianship and expression, music theory and ear training, songwriting, improvisation, values-based goal setting, performance skills, and creative collaboration.

I draw on experience and training in collaborative songwriting facilitation (Lullaby Project, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY), peer-group facilitation (Center for Grieving Children, Portland, ME), early childhood music (First Steps in Music), and community health music (Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA). My offerings are designed to welcome beginners, seasoned musicians + artists, and anyone reconnecting with music and creativity.

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