Most kids shudder at the thought of staying inside at recess but Sara Berki wouldn't have had it any other way.
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The 24-year old Highland musician is about to release her debut EP, Heartline, and has just been chosen as Highland FM's '100 per cent Home-Grown Artist of the Month' for December.
But if not for a primary school teacher, Sara may never have discovered her love of music.
"I actually started playing guitar when I was in year three," she explained to Highland FM's Lea Steed.
"My school teacher had said to us if you have a guitar at home and if you like we'll do some lessons at recess. I begged mum and dad for a guitar and had my first one bought for me from the local music shop.
"I kind of fell off it by 10 but by high school it was compulsory, so I picked it up again and haven't put it down."
The Bowral High product is a hairdresser by trade, something that has made jotting down melodies difficult at times.
"Funnily enough I don't know how to read sheet music but if I listen to a song I can pick up and start playing," she explained.
"I start with the melody first, just a simple chord progression through the verse, change the chorus and then follow it like a pattern. Then I do second verse, bridge, chorus then outro.
"That's pretty much the structure of my writing. Sometimes I feel like it only comes to me when I'm in the shower or when I'm halfway through cutting someone's hair.
"I have to be like, 'one minute, I have to write it down!'
"Sometimes if I get a melody in my head I have to record it on my phone via voice memo and then go home and elaborate on it."
After rocking out with fellow local artists at the 100 per cent Home-Grown concert at Bowral Bowling Club earlier in December, Sara is looking ahead to her EP release.
Well known for her covers of country classics, the Mittagong local said she was looking forward to sharing some original content, in particular her song 'Heights'.
It's pretty much a sad breakup country song," she said.
"It hits you in the feels. I had started writing it from a past experience.
"Heartbreak can really bring out some good songs in terms of writing from the heart."
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