Teacher Profile: Sean McDowell

About Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell teaches violin, viola, clarinet, and oboe, drawing on decades of experience across orchestral, chamber, marching band, and percussion settings. For Sean, music is both a discipline and a joy - a way to connect deeply with others, whether through the precision of a symphony orchestra or the energy of a marching band halftime show.

Sean began his musical journey at age 3 on the violin, starting with private lessons. Over the years, Sean performed in symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, competitive percussion ensembles, and marching bands. At the University of Michigan, Sean minored in music, playing clarinet in the Michigan Marching Band, serving as associate concertmaster of the Michigan Pops Orchestra, and performing oboe in a woodwind quintet.

After graduation, Sean continued performing with orchestras across Michigan. His love of historical performance led to baroque and chamber ensembles on both oboe and violin. While living in Shanghai, China, Sean performed in a string quartet, using music to transcend language and explore culture. In 2021, Sean relocated to Seattle. He continues his practice of music composition and arrangements.

Sean believes music education is essential not just for skill-building, but for teaching patience, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Every student learns differently, and Sean takes pride in adapting his teaching style to match each individual's goals and personality.