April 24, 2025 by

Hi, everyone! 

My name is Sarah Funkhouser! I come from a military family, so I am not really from anywhere; however, we are currently living in Richland, Michigan. I live in the newest dorm on campus, Diehl Johnson — or, as everyone calls it, DJ! I am a junior keyboard pedagogy major with a minor in Spanish. My hobbies include volleyball, drawing, and dancing, and there are plenty of opportunities to do all of these activities at Cedarville!  

Keyboard pedagogy is learning how to effectively teach the art of playing the piano through the means of a private studio. I chose this major because I have always loved playing the piano and learning about music, from its history to its composition. Most importantly, I love helping people accomplish their goals of learning the piano, and I am endlessly fascinated by the learning process!  

Here is what a day looks like for me as a keyboard pedagogy major! 

7–7:30 a.m. – Start my day 

One thing I always do in the morning is make myself a cup of matcha! I really like matcha because it has a fresher taste than coffee, and it is so quick to make. Plus, it is really fun to use the little whisk and make it frothy! 

With matcha in hand and some breakfast, I’ll listen to a news podcast or an Alistair Begg sermon. He has a really great podcast called Truth for Life that breaks up his sermons into 25-minute chunks! It’s really helpful, because I need to get out the door 30 minutes after waking up! 

7:30–9:30 a.m. – Piano practice 

Now, why am I practicing so early? Well, I have a lot of homework at night, and I have learned the hard way that I practice quite horribly after 10 p.m., which is usually when I finish my work. As I walk through the practice wing, I wave to all my friends who are at their instruments and maybe stop for a little chat before I shut myself in a room with a piano. Currently, I am working on pieces for my upcoming recital with my friend Kierstin! I will be playing piano while she sings, and then I am going to play some solos. The piece I am most excited about is a Chinese folk piece called The Moon Reflected in the Erquan Spring. 

9:30 a.m. – Devotions 

I use this time to do some personal Bible studying and to clear my head after playing music for two hours straight. When I study the Bible, I work through it in small chunks and analyze the passage for examples of God’s character. Currently, I have been rereading Luke and researching the historical and cultural context of the time period.

10–10:50 a.m. – Chapel 

I greatly appreciate chapel because I have very busy days and easily get overwhelmed by feelings of stress and pressure. I will either sit with my bro-sis group or with my friends from MuKappa, the campus organization for students with cross-cultural experience. Being able to worship and hear God’s messages through wonderful speakers helps me recenter myself on the fact that my identity is found in being loved by God and not my performance in school. One of my favorite sermon series this year has been by Dr. James Hilton, who looked at the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 and spoke from Psalm 23, preaching about how God equips us through His Word to deal with our turbulent emotions, survive the trials of life, and become more like Christ. 

11 a.m.–12 p.m. – Lunch 

Usually, I have one-on-one meetings with friends over lunch! I am not on the meal plan because of food allergies I have, but my friends will grab a meal from the Café or take food to go from the Dining Hall. We eat by the bright windows of the Scharnberg Business and Communication Center or the pleasantly bustling space in the upper level of the Stevens Student Center. 

12–1 p.m. – Music History 

This is a fun class that all the junior music majors take together! In this class, we learn about the history, philosophy, and purpose of music from Ancient Greece to the 20th century. We get to analyze music together in class and have several opportunities to research and perform music from whatever era we are studying! Recently, we had Schubertiad, an informal music party where we all got to play for each other and eat snacks! 

1–2 p.m. – Theory IV 

This is an interesting class where I am learning that music is not only artistic and expressive but very mathematical and logical as well. Recently, we have been analyzing fugues written by Bach, which are very intricate keyboard compositions filled with tons of unique patterns that all lock together like a puzzle!

2–3 p.m. – New Testament Literature  

My professor for New Testament Literature is Dr. Couser, and I could not recommend him more! He does an excellent job revealing how the New Testament reflects God’s purpose for all humankind and His everlasting love for His people. I promise that if you take his class, you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way, be able to study it better, and most of all, be more strongly assured of your faith and God’s personal love for you! 

3–4 p.m. – Chorale 

Chorale is a great time to relax and forget about your schoolwork by singing for an hour. I had never been in a choir before coming to Cedarville, and now I hope to be part of one for the rest of my life. There is something indescribable about singing praise to God with all your friends. The sound of all our voices coming together for one song in beautiful harmonies is an experience that I will treasure forever! 

4–5 p.m. – Free hour 

What I do during this hour changes every week, but I either teach a piano lesson, accompany Kierstin while she performs in vocal studio, do homework, or call my family. As a college student, it’s very helpful to fit in little homework sessions when possible. It eases the burden of doing long study sessions after a tiring day! Additionally, taking 15 minutes to reconnect with my family is refreshing and teaches me how to balance relationships with schoolwork. Consistency will always pay off! 

5–6 p.m. – Directed Teaching 

This is a fun class specifically for keyboard pedagogy majors! In this class, my friends and I have discussions about everything from the teaching books we are reading to the funny things our piano students said to us in lessons that week to asking advice for teaching and managing our busy lives as music majors. What makes it even better is that we all get to sit on these really big couches covered in giant 80s floral patterns! We have a great time. 

6–7 p.m. – Dinner 

After Directed Teaching, I usually have a one-on-one dinner scheduled, or I will eat with MuKappa. I look forward to this break, especially since I have been pretty busy for the past eight hours. 

7–11 p.m. – Homework! 

Depending on what work I have, I’ll either study in the library or the Dixon Ministry Center. I’ll do my work in 30–45-minute chunks and then take a five-minute break. I tend to briefly yap with my friends about needing to lock in, but trust me, if you are disciplined enough to stay on schedule, the little brain breaks do wonders for productivity! 

11 p.m. – Bedtime 

I am pretty consistently back in my room in Diel Johnson by 11 pm. My only night chores are to pack my lunch for the next day and get ready for bed! I’ll usually do a small amount of reading, either from the Bible or from a book I’m reading called The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino. Lights are out by 12 a.m., and my day is complete!  

Though these busy days are often long and tiring, when I step back and look at the big picture, I am reminded that it is worth it! Music is truly a universal language, and the lessons one can learn in music can be applied to so many other areas of life, making it an excellent way to share the wisdom of God and be representative of His character. Making music forms communal connections that unify people in really beautiful ways. The music community at Cedarville is the most vibrant and close-knit community I have experienced here on campus. I highly recommend looking at the music programs, classes, and opportunities here at Cedarville if you are passionate about music! Check out the program page to find out more.  

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