About
Sara Landeau is a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, educator, producer, composer, and artist based in NYC. She has worked across a broad spectrum of experimental guitar mediums, and is a founding member of The Julie Ruin, who has released acclaimed albums on Hardly Art Records (SubPop) and has achieved top ten chart hits, radio and television appearance, a number 1 on CMJ charts, and music in films and commercials.. Since 2003, she has been running Sara Landeau Studios in Brooklyn which offers music lessons in guitar, bass, drums, and electronics for girls and women. She is a proponent of equality for women, and believes in the ideology of self-improvement and empowerment through education.
The recipient of 2019 Max Matthews Sound Artist Artist award from Brooklyn College, the 2019 Cycling 74 Max Expo Grant, Women in Computer Music Scholarship Stanford, 2019, and an award winning educator with the Girls Rock Camp Alliance, she has also toured internationally for a decade as an electro-acoustic composer and guitarist. Her performances often include custom instruments and sonic sculptures utilizing electro-conductive materials such as paint and threads with sounds and compositions created in Max MSP. The theme of her technology driven installation art has feminist intentions and includes fabric with harsh sounds and juxtapositions in media.
She received a B.A. from Columbia University (2002) in Art History, and an MFA in Sonic Arts (2019) from Brooklyn College where she studied under Morton Subtonic and Marina Rosenfeld. She was a first-generation college student and volunteers to support other students in this category who often face harsh obstacles.
Currently she is taking private students in guitar, drums, bass, and electronic music from her music studio in Greenpoint Brooklyn, and is an Adjunct Professor of Music History at Brooklyn College., teaching courses such as "Music, It's Language & Culture" and "Music in Global America" to over 100 students.
Music, sound, & Art
Bands
THE JULIE RUIN features Sara Landeau on guitars, Kathleen Hanna on vocals, Kathi Wilcox on bass, Carmine Covelli on drums, and Kenny Mellman on keyboards.
The Julie Ruin are on Hardly Arts Records.
Live performances headlining tours or as part of world festivals include the US, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Australia, Tasmania, and more. Television performances include Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Seth Meyers Show, and Carson Daly Show.
Reviews and interviews include New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Magazine, Paper Magazine, Billboard, Los Angeles Times, Timeout, Esquire, Big Takeover, NME, Pitchfork, Fader, Consequence of Sound, Flaunt, Bust, and dozens of US, European, and world newspapers and online journals.
College Music Journal (CMJ) listed song “I Decide” #1 in 2017. Rolling Stone listed song ‘Run Fast” 2015 as #3 in their top ten albums of the year.
Electronic Art & Illustrations
Custom Musical Instruments. The intrinsic aspect of these works are the contradictions created between the “soft” interfaces of the embroidered, painted, or haptic instruments and the loud and immersive soundscape that they produce.
The materials include fabric, canvas, wire, electro-conductive thread, flowers, and uses technology such as Max Msp, Arduino, and several other computer based synthesis.
The study of contrasts is important not only as a tool to define the focus, but the various composites can suggest the idea of opposites in the subject matter.. Various realities form in the new musical environments, and point to highly constructed situations which will help to reflect certain beliefs within a society.
Embroidery and knitting are crafts generally associated with female labor and folk tradition. Through the use of these techniques the artwork intends to re-evaluate these crafts as a valid contemporary form of expression, while combining them with technological features and the use of physical computing, in order to create a tangible “soft” interface that controls and produces sound.
Photo Gallery of Electronic Art, selected pieces. See More videos on Instagram
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
M.F.A., Sonic Arts, Brooklyn College, NY 2019
Concentration: Electroacoustic music and production
Thesis: A Study in Contrasts: Prepared Instruments and Audiovisual Composition
Thesis Advisor: Marina Rosenfeld. Additional studies with Morton Subotnick, Doug Geers
B.A., Art History, Columbia University, New York, NY, 2002
Concentration: Modern Art
(other) The Juilliard School 2003-2005 Courses: music theory, audio technology, guitar 2018 Pro Tools Audio/DAW Certified
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS and AWARDS (selected)
2019 Women in Computer Music Scholarship for Supercollider, Stanford University
2019 Max Matthews Sound Art Award , Brooklyn College
2019 Cycling 74 Max Expo Grant
2015 Girls Rock Camp Alliance, USA: Artists and Activists Award
Sponsors include Fender Guitars
BMI artist
WRITER
She Shreds Magazine -Magazine dedicated to female guitarists
Tom Tom Magazine - Drummers/Music/Feminism
ADORAMA (ALC) LEARNING SERIES - Recording and Audio Gear/Guitars/Reviews
SELECTED VIDEO, COMMERCIAL, & FILM
College Music Journal (CMJ) #1 song, 2017.
Rolling Stone #3 album of the year, 2015
The Punk Singer feature film soundtrack, including small film role as self. 2016
Tour Without End feature film soundtrack, including small film role as self. 2016
Mona Lisa Smiles, director: Mike Newell.Guitarist in big band. 2005
Advil Super Bowl music placement for commercial 2017
High Maintenance (HBO) music placement for tv show 2018
Catfight composer 2019
Skin the Wire soundtrack 2018
Red Bull Music: featured guest on podcast “C.L.A.W. – the Collaborative Legions of Artful Womxn, 2016
Teaching
As a music instructor in New York City for 15 years, and with around 10,000 hours of classroom time, I have helped hundreds of students to perform professional level work.
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Brooklyn College, Brooklyn NY,
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, History of Music
2017-present
Music History Course: “Music: Its Language, History, and Culture” and "Music in Global America"
Brooklyn Music School, Brooklyn, New York
MUSIC FACULTY
2018 - 2019
Member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts.
Teaches Guitar, Drums, Piano, Voice
Sara Landeau Studio,
MUSIC INSTRUCTOR
2003- present
PencilWorks Building, Brooklyn NY 11222
Individual and Group Private Music Lessons
Guitar, Bass, Drums, Songwriting, Music Theory
Group workshops created for women include: Chicks With Picks, Iron Maidens, and Bitches Brew
Guitar Instructor, Chicks With Picks Workshops, Lessonface, NYC location 2015-18
Band Coach, Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, 2005 - 2015
Music Instructor, Gowanus Music Club, Brooklyn NY, 2011-2018
Music Instructor, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY, summer 2017
Real Testimonials from private students:
"You're the best drum teacher on earth! You made learning to read drum notation fun. And you gave me the confidence to flow from time to fills back to time. And to gig out after only playing a kit for less than 6 months! You gave me superpowers and I love you forever for all of that generosity and detailed lessons and HW. You have always inspired me so. My shero! Thank you forever! "
-Alison
" I will never forget your flyer, that drew me to you, right away. I knew you were "my Teacher." Not verbatim, but I would love a copy if you still have one. Here goes . . . Are you tired of male guitar teachers showing you how to play an Eric Clapton riff . . . Women of all ages encouraged to call. Thank goodness I did. You helped me find, "my voice," the greatest gift anyone can be given. Thank you. Oh, and you are the best friggin' guitar teacher in the Universe!" - Elaine
"Along with teaching me scales, music theory, guitar techniques, mastering pedals and new chords, Sara has also taught me confidence and strength. She offers inspiring advice about conquering song writing ruts, she's easy to talk to, patient, and hilariously funny. She customized lessons catering to what I was interested in learning and instilled good habits. Sara is a talented musician, courage giver, performance coach, style idol, trusted punk rock sage, and wonderful friend."- - Marisha
About & Contact
Contact: info@saralandeau.com
SARA LANDEAU STUDIOS is located in the Pencil Works Building, Greenpoint area of Brooklyn. Location is 61 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn NY, 11222. Located in the lovely area by the Greenpoint water front.
PRIVATE LESSONS: please email for more information and hourly rates on guitar, bass, drum, piano, and voice lessons, or seasonal workshops. Sara meets students by appointment weekdays and Saturdays, Fall 2019. ALL AGES and levels welcome!
The large 24 hour soundproof studio is always available for recording/tracking and rehearsal rental space. Access to an engineer by request. Studio includes several amps, drum kits, mics, assorted instruments, and a baby grand.
