THE NEW BARKER  27
www.TheNewBarker.com
by Anna Cooke 
Photography by Tiffanee Grumbly
IF MUSIC BE THE 
FOOD OF LOVE, 
PLAY ON
Music teacher Sabrina Calandro 
remembers the positive affect music 
had on her two dogs, Maya and 
Elliot; how their demeanor instantly 
changed as she began to play. 
      “When I played the piano, Maya 
would lean on some part of the 
instrument to feel the vibration,” 
Sabrina said. “It was the only thing 
that calmed her during thunder-
storms.” Without fail, every time 
Sabrina began playing the cello, 
Elliot would get up from wherever 
he was in the house, walk over to 
her, then plant himself on the floor. 
“Right between my legs and the 
cello,” Sabrina said.  
      Sabrina has been teaching piano, 
violin, and cello lessons to adults and 
children for nearly 20 years at her 
own studio, the Jacksonville Cello 
Studio. She had been wanting to do 
something with the Jacksonville 
Humane Society, but hadn’t felt 
ready since the passing of Maya 
and Elliot.  
      One day, during a bout of 
melancholy, she vividly recalled her 
dogs, and how they enjoyed music as 
much as she did. Her mind’s eye 
conjured up the vision of her dogs 
coming to her whenever she played 
her music. It was at this moment that 
she was inspired to honor Maya and 
Elliot. Now, could she convince the 
Humane Society of her idea? And, 
could she persuade her students to 
play along? 
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