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Bachelor Degree: SUNY Potsdam
I am a passionate music educator who is always looking for new ways to challenge myself and grow as a teacher. I am a recent graduate of the Crane school of music at SUNY Potsdam. Here I majored in both trombone performance and music education. Getting to teach young students and play across various groups on Long Island has been incredibly rewarding this past year, and I am still looking for ways to expand my horizons. I have had the opportunity to play at various universities and colleges, including Stony Brook, LIU Post, and Carnegie Hall.
My teaching experience began during my college years, where I was granted the opportunity to work closely with young students in one on one settings as part of my practical courses, since then student teaching and a leave replacement position at Raynor Country Day School in Speonk have given me the opportunity to develop my skill set as a teacher and find new and exciting ways to challenge my students to develop as musicians. I am also looking for ways to expand my private teaching studio to include talented brass players of all ages.
For students who are just starting out on their instruments, I typically use the Essential Elements book for band, as I believe this is the best book for beginning young students. However, if the student or parent has another book they feel would be better for their growth, I am always open to suggestions. Once students are developing well in their instrumental journey, I will look for repertoire that encourages their growth in the most efficient way possible. I typically try to latch on to what the student is most interested in and use that to develop their passion for the instrument.
It is important that the student comes to their own realizations about playing using me as a guide, rather than being spoon-fed the information. Knowing how each student learns most efficiently is critical to success in a lesson, and I believe that each student should be taught using as multiple instructional methods as well, including sound, sight, and feel. By learning early on why the student chose their instrument and what they hope to get out of it, I can easily find a path to success that is both efficient and exciting.