Margaret Ayre

Margaret holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Ithaca College School of Music, where she was introduced to her lifelong interest in the Suzuki Strings method, and she gained a strong foundation in traditional string pedagogy, music theory, music history and composition. While at Ithaca, Margaret founded an indie rock band, and after graduation, she was drawn to the vibrant music scene of Providence, RI.

Margaret continued teaching and performing for the next two and a half decades, first in Providence, then in Philadelphia, and most recently in the Washington, D.C. area where she ran an outreach program for Levine Music from 2009-2015 in SE DC, offering discounted Suzuki Strings lessons to families living in Wards 7 and 8. During this time she also became a parent to an active child who loves being outdoors. After searching for alternative educational philosophies, her family felt at home with Waldorf education, and its principles have been central to her teaching ever since.

Margaret completed the Antioch Center for Anthroposophy’s Explorations Program in 2020, the foundational studies course for Waldorf Educators. After Waldorf homeschooling and teaching primarily at her home studio and online in recent years, she was thrilled to join the RWS community as faculty and parent in the Fall of 2022.

When she is not teaching or playing music, Margaret enjoys knitting and crocheting, running, exploring new places with her family, and experimenting in the kitchen with gluten-free recipes.

“I am continually awed by what the children can accomplish when given a nurturing environment and a patient guiding hand. Their creativity and joy in music-making inspires me daily.”