Gordon Francis B  
Instruments: Piano, Voice, Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Clarinet, Organ, Euphonium, French Horn, Tuba, Music, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Blues, Musical Theater, Opera, Funk, Showtunes, Latin Jazz, Swing, Bossa Nova, Marching Band

My teaching experience dates back to my elementary school days, as I began teaching private lessons part-time 23 years ago. I've been consistently teaching students during that time. Points I emphasize with students are: a) regular practice on a consistent schedule b) positive and optimistic thinking c) physical health and wellness d) to never ever give up e) music is suppose to be pleasurable not painful but may require long and hard work. The aforementioned points tend to help the student progress and gain a passion for whatever they're studying in music. I've also found that a curriculum that is full of listening homework from all over the world and all throughout history to go a long way in helping students learn things they might not have even known they liked or loved. My students are encouraged to enter the world free of fear, be it performing and or writing music. It's important to me that students feel good about their accomplishments and stay motivated to learn. I'm always looking to bring on new students of all ages!

The method of teaching is as follows: 1) assess where the student is in music and in life, 2) ask about goals in music, 3) formulate objective to reach those goals, 4) rethink things when needed (students aren't cookies, so I can't use a cookie cutter). I do focus on things in order though. If you don't know your fundamentals, then that's where we start no matter what. After learning fundamentals, however, we can begin to pick and choose the battles and wars. I do tend to assign, as mentioned elsewhere, listening homework. I do this because I've seen it help students learn what they want to and need to learn faster as well as help students learn to like, love, or at least appreciate new things. The main point here is that every student is complex, difficult, and hard insomuch as teaching method required, but my passion is so great that I don't see issues or problems but rather new opportunities to get students excited about learning and demonstrating what they've learned.