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BM, University of North Texas, Music Education
Studied at Berklee College of Music 1999-2001
-Performed with various ensembles including jazz combo, big band, & hip hop genres.
Studied at University of Texas at Tyler 2009-2010
-Performed with various ensembles including wind symphony, big band, & jazz combo
I've been playing the trombone for over 20 years and have studied music my whole life. I started with the piano and guitar at age 4 but didn't continue those professionally. I wanted to get involved with the music program at my school which brought me in contact with playing trombone. Since then, I devoted my attention to the trombone and studied at such institutions including Berklee College of Music & the University of North Texas. I learned to play a variety of genres on trombone including classical and jazz and learned jazz trombone improv from some of the great jazz professors at those institutions. I currently participate in the Pleasanton Community Band usually on 2nd Trombone.
I have taught private trombone lessons while I was attending University of North Texas and taught trombone and piano for another private music company. I make sure to keep active on my trombone by playing in as many bands as possible and encourage my students to do the same. I want to pass on the excitement that I have enjoyed on the trombone to my students and use that as encouragement to practice often to get that much better. I have student taught on the trombone at various school systems in Texas and my students always come away from my trombone lessons learning something new.
I encourage trombone mouthpiece exercises and long tones at the beginning of my lessons as proper embouchure flexibility is important to practicing and playing better. Breathing is another aspect that I look at and always breathe by expanding the diaphragm. I use the essential elements series for trombone beginners and melodious etudes for more experienced trombone players. I believe in breaking down difficult pieces into chunks to work on in order to improve upon more difficult passages.
I expect practice of the assignments that I give for my private trombone lessons and am a proponent of getting my students to work hard on any weaknesses in their playing. I do set realistic goals and make sure that my trombone students are comfortable with meeting those goals. I encourage trombone students to find new material that they want to do in the future and structure my lessons with the end goal of accomplishing what the student wants to achieve on the trombone. I am available primarily on weekends and weekday evening availability. However I do expect at least 24 hours’ notice if any lesson is to be made up on a weekday evening.