Bridget Law, Waldorf Strings Teacher, Performer, and Champion of Musical Joy

For more than two decades, Bridget Law has built a career as a performer, arranger, and recording artist. From fiddle contests and orchestras to touring stages and festival performances, music has always been central to her life. Today, however, her greatest creative fulfillment comes from the classroom. As the strings teacher at Shining Mountain Waldorf School, Bridget works with nearly one hundred students, guiding them through violin, viola, cello, and ensemble playing while nurturing their confidence, creativity, and love of music. In this Community Spotlight, Bridget reflects on her journey from student to performer to educator and shares why teaching now fuels her more than the stage ever did.

Q and A with Bridget

Gary: Let’s start at the beginning. Tell us about your own journey into music.

Bridget: I started playing violin when I was nine years old in third grade at a Waldorf school. I was completely infatuated with my teacher. She had such style and presence, and I just wanted to be around her energy. Her name was Chris Daring, and she was an outstanding fiddle player. I competed in fiddle contests as a private lesson student and played violin in the Waldorf orchestra. Over time, she became more than a teacher. She became like a second mother to me. That mentorship shaped everything.

Gary: You eventually went on to study music formally. What did that look like?

Bridget: I studied in the music industry program at University of Colorado Denver, which I still highly recommend for students considering a career in music. I played jazz, participated in every ensemble I could, and started exploring bluegrass and other genres. That led to years of performing, touring, and collaborating in different musical spaces. Music has always been my life.

Gary: And now you are teaching at a Waldorf school. How did that shift happen?

Bridget: I always joked that my dream job would be teaching strings at a Waldorf school. When the position opened, I applied. It took a couple tries, but eventually I got the job. Teaching here has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my life. I still perform, but the classroom gives me a different kind of energy. I walk into rehearsal and feel alive. It feels like I am contributing to echoes into the future.

Gary: What was the program like when you arrived, and what have you changed?

Bridget: The previous teachers were exceptional and very classically trained. But many students who were not deeply committed to classical music were getting left behind. When I arrived, I began arranging music specifically for my students. I meet them where they are. If they love pop music, we bring that into the orchestra. If they are ready for classical repertoire, we build toward it. This year we are performing cello concertos and Coldplay in the same concert. It keeps them engaged and invested.

Gary: For readers unfamiliar with Waldorf education, can you give a brief overview?

Bridget: Shining Mountain Waldorf School is preschool through twelfth grade. Strings are built into the curriculum beginning in third grade. Every student chooses violin, viola, cello, or bass. In middle school, they can choose to continue strings or move to guitar. The philosophy emphasizes socio emotional development, collaboration, art, and whole human growth
alongside academics. Students still learn rigorous material, including advanced math and science, but they also develop empathy, creativity, and strong community connections.

Gary: You have spoken passionately about private lessons. Why are they so important?

Bridget: Private lessons should support what students are doing in school ensembles. Playing together is where the magic happens. We all remember the first time we felt that rush of performing in orchestra. Private teachers can reinforce those skills and help students feel confident in group settings. It is not about perfection. It is about helping them stay connected to
music as a community experience.

Gary: You have performed at major venues and festivals. Yet you light up most when you talk about teaching. Why?

Bridget: I am happy to do what I do. Performing is exciting and I still love it, but working with kids has hit me in a deeper way. There is something about guiding them through a concert and watching them feel proud that gives me a different kind of energy. It feels meaningful in a deeper way. It feels like we are shaping something that lasts.

Gary: What advice would you give to young teachers entering the field?

Bridget: Teach to the student. Connect first. Assess where they truly are and build from there. Find methods that work for you, but stay flexible. Keep it joyful. This generation needs music as connection and creativity, not just technical mastery. Let them experience joy in it.

Gary: And for parents considering an arts based education like Waldorf?

Bridget: Waldorf education nurtures the whole human. If your child needs space for socio-emotional growth, creative expression, and deep connection, it can be transformative. The academics are still rigorous, but the arts are not an afterthought. They are central. Call the school, attend an outreach event, and explore scholarship opportunities. There are many ways to get involved.

Learn More and Get Involved

● Shining Mountain Waldorf School: Preschool through 12th grade arts integrated
education
● Bridget Law Instagram
● Bridget’s Musical Ensembles
○ Tierro Band with Bridget Law
○ Elephant Revival
● The Lesson Studio: Performance based music education in Boulder