Clarinet Lessons in Cedars, PA

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I first began teaching upon the completion of my undergraduate studies in 2004. At that time the majority of my students were beginners in their first or second year of playing. By 2008 I had completed the first of my two graduate degrees in music. With this accomplishment the students seeking lessons with me generally became older, typically in the junior high and high school ages. It has been my priveldge to help some of these students reach their goals of becoming university and college music majors and scholarship recipients. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I believe that the first thing you have to have is a good fundamental foundation. I always start with breathing correctly and assembling the instrument before playing notes. The core concepts I teach in the beginning are tone, dexterity, and tonguing. As for specific exercises, no two students are the same. I assign or create exercises based on the specific student's needs as a player. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

My teaching experience goes back to my undergraduate days, where I had plenty of field teaching opportunities as well as student teaching. My clarinet professor gave me opportunities to help out with teaching the Woodwind Methods classes at USM for more pedagogical experience. In grad school, I taught make-up lessons to undergraduate students, coached chamber ensembles, and taught lessons to non-majors. My philosophy of teaching starts with strong fundamentals, and knowing different ways to teach different students. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

For students just starting I like to use the Rubank Method Books to establish solid fundamentals. As students progress I like to base the lessons on the needs and interests of my students. I like to have students play a variety of types of music. This includes classic, jazz, pop, rock and more. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums

I use a variety of methods for my teaching style. I usually have a few method books that I bring to a first lesson, and after meeting the student I will decide on the best one. Once the student has progressed and shows some motivation to be slightly challenged, I'll introduce "popular" music so that the student feels a sense of accomplishment! Music is associated with movies, radio, etc., so to be able to play something recognizable is exciting for the student and the teacher. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I am very flexible when it comes to method books.  I try and work with any materials that may be required by the student's school.  For older students, I tend to use standard method books such as Rose, Klose, Polatscheck, Baerman and a few others based on the student's needs.  I also have many exercises that dont require books.  I often play in lessons or bring recordings to offer an example. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I first began teaching while still completing my Bachelors degree at William Paterson in 2011. Most of my students were beginning level piano students, but I had a few more advanced students as well as some people studying saxophone with me. My teaching philosophy is to combine teaching the technique of an instrument with learning songs as well as theory and improvisation/composition. Everyone learns technique, but learning music that I wanted to learn, learning how those songs were written (theory), and eventually elaborating on those songs (improvisation), and writing my own music (composition), was what really got me deeply engaged in the act of practicing and making music, and I have found over several years of teaching that it keeps my students engaged and enjoying the learning process. Read More