Robin Russell is a passionate, inspiring and engaging teacher holding a Bachelors in Education from the University of Vermont. Her foray into music began at 7 years old when she started formal piano lessons. From there she branched out learning several more instruments including guitar, fiddle and accordion. As an independent learner, she has continuously studied music throughout her life in a wide variety of both academic and community arenas including the Jamie Faunt School of Creative Music, Goddard College, the Floating Bridge Music School, Upper Valley Music School and the Summit School for Traditional Music.

Robin has been teaching classroom, group and private lessons for over 25 years working with students ranging in age from 3 – 80. Robin brings to her students the full potency of her extensive training in both music education and therapeutic modalities to bring about positive results. She teaches students to trust and access their own inner teacher by raising awareness about how we learn, how music is made, how our body works systematically to produce the sounds we intend, what our body needs to perform at our best, how our thoughts help or inhibit, and how we experience listening. She guides and supports her students to seek inspiration, accomplish set goals, and trust the creative process while holding space for their creativity to emerge.  When working with students she draws from an expanding toolkit of techniques to calm the nervous system, relax the mind and drop into a state where our creativity and greatest learning potential can be tapped. Her goal is to encourage a flow state of playfulness that allows music to come through each musician freely to the fullness of their potential.

Robin advocates for the integration of music and the well-being of mind-body-spirit wherever she goes. She has worked as a life enrichment specialist, community dance leader, and music director. Under her own business label, New Acadia Music and Dance, she has been a producer, presenter and curator of workshops, concerts and events for independent artists. Through collaborative partnerships she has brought her artistic leadership into school settings, cultural arts organizations, community centers, senior centers, music and dance festivals, healing arts retreats and into private homes. 

Robin moved to Sarasota in 2021 and is delighted to be teaching with Elizabeth Farrell Music. She also works as Community Education and Outreach Coordinator of the Fogartyville Media and Arts Center, and serves on the Entertainment Committee as musical liaison for the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. She regularly attends both Celtic and traditional music jams in Tampa and Palmetto, and performs locally with her new band, Euphoria.