Soundscribe was founded by Sam Barnes, a multi-instrumentalist (violin/fiddle, viola, cello, piano, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, voice) who graduated with a bachelors in violin performance from DePauw Univerisity studying under Dan Rizner. Other areas of study included classical and jazz theory & composition, classical and jazz piano performance, jazz guitar, improvisation, string ensemble, pedagogy, conducting, philosophy, and psychology. He was a member of the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra (1997-2000) and Indianapolis New World Youth Symphony Orchestra (2000-2004) and was a three year gold medal winner of the Indiana State Solo and Ensemble Competition for solo violin and string ensemble studying under Margaret Dugdale, Larry Shapiro, and Susan Kitterman. After graduating, Sam began teaching. He spent three years in Massachusetts performing with the Wyndham Philharmonic in Brattleboro, VT.
Sam was a founding member of the Brooklyn Bluegrass Collective, an active recording artist, and member of the Summit Symphony Orchestra. He has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe and performed at many festivals including Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, NY, Westport Bluegrass festival in Westport Ireland, and Dooley Folk Festival in Doolin Ireland.
He teaches all levels of violin/fiddle, beginner/intermediate piano, acoustic guitar, mandolin, and ukulele, theory, and improvisation. He has run a private lesson studio of 20-30 students weekly with bi-annual recitals and taught as an adjunct at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. With 16 years of teaching experience he has also spent years as a social worker with special needs individuals. Years of performing and teaching has inspired him to create a site offering comprehensive lessons he hopes will build students understanding, creativity, motivation, and love of music.