Satella Waterstone facts for kids

Satella Sharps Waterstone (born February 1875 – died June 15, 1938), also known as "Miss Birda," was an American writer, music creator, and teacher. She helped many young people learn about music and education.

Discovering Satella Waterstone

Satella Sharps Waterstone was born in February 1875 in Greenwood Lake, a town in Orange County, New York. Her mother, also named Satella Sharps Waterstone, sadly passed away when Satella was born. Her father was Edward T. Waterstone.

Family Connections

Satella's grandfather was Christian Sharps. He was a famous gunsmith, which means he designed and made guns. He invented a special type of gun called the Sharps rifle. This rifle was a powerful 50-caliber gun. It was used in the western United States, often by people hunting buffalo.

Her Education and Travels

Satella Waterstone first learned from private teachers at home. Later, she went on to study at Columbia University in New York City. She also traveled all the way to Jena, Germany, to continue her studies. After exploring different parts of Europe, she returned to the United States.

A Career in Teaching

When she came back home, Satella began her teaching career. She taught at the Spinning Private School in South Orange, New Jersey. In 1916, Satella Waterstone teamed up with Emma Hedden. Together, they opened their own school. It was called the Hedden-Waterstone Private School. This school taught young boys and girls from kindergarten up to third grade.

Music and Writing

Satella Waterstone was very interested in how children learn music. She wrote many articles about early music education. She also taught children how to play in rhythm bands. These bands use simple instruments to make music. She also wrote about kindersymphonies, which are also known as toy symphonies. These are musical pieces where children play toy instruments. Her writings and music were published by well-known companies. These included Derrydale Press, G. Schirmer Inc., and P.F. Volland Company.