Piano Lessons in Tucson, AZ

Instruments: Trombone

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music doesn't run in my family. Both of my parents were in middle and high school band and have funny stories of how they faked their way through the years. I wasn't gifted with any unordinary skills in music, I've had to put in more work than most to get to the point where I am today.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I'm most proud of my current position as a musician in the USAF Band of Mid-America. It's a job I auditioned for multiple times before winning the position in 2018.

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
Many of my students have made it into the regional and all-state bands, won awards at solo and ensemble competitions. They've succeeded through their own motivation and effort. All I've done as a teacher is fuel that motivation and provided tools to succeed.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I use the Essential Elements books because they have a very systematic approach in how they teach the language of music while also teaching how to play your instrument. For advanced students, there's a plethora of material out there. Some of the staples I use include Rochut, Blazhevich, and Arban's.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I start by making sound on the horn. This is like stretching before working out or exercising. Then I move on to my daily routine, which is a series of exercises that essentially cover as many aspects of playing the trombone as possible (playing loud, soft, fast, slow, high, low, lip slurs, varied articulations, scales, patterns, etc.) The purpose of this is to help me feel ready to play anything but to also ensure I'm improving on the horn. This would be the equivalent of running drills, going through a circuit, running plays, and so on. Then I'll work on any music for an upcoming performance or recording. This is could be compared to a scrimmage or working on multiple concepts of a sport.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
With a music performance degree, you spend most of your time in an ensemble, where you're able to learn rehearsal techniques and strategies. Most degree tracks include a course on pedagogy, which is the method and practice of teaching, usually focused on your specific instrument. You're constantly presented with learning opportunities in just about ever situation you find yourself in, where everything correlates in one way or another.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I didn't choose my primary instrument, it was chosen for me since my beginning band didn't have enough trombone players. I never disliked the trombone, but it was never what I wanted to play. Over time, I began to find qualities or aspects I enjoyed about the trombone that other instruments didn't always offer.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
If they possess the ability to focus on an activity for 30-60 minutes and can consistently practice at home, they should be ready.

When will I start to see results?
This will vary, but I usually see results within the first few lessons. If the student is interested in lessons, their enthusiasm is usually bolstered, and they will put in more time and energy into practicing. They begin to feel their is value in preparing for and going to lessons. A less interested student might take more time to see results because they're not implementing the tools the teacher is giving them during the lessons.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
-Set a goal before going into the practice session (play these measures without messing up, be able to play at this specific tempo, etc). -Practice in chunks of time. Set a time for 15 minutes and work on a specific section. Take a quick mental break and then dive back in for another 15 minutes. -Remove distractions. Practice in a location that isn't going to be fighting you for your attention. Put your phone out of your reach.

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