Jacob N  
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Drums, Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Harmonica, Music, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Showtunes, Swing, New Age, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk

Since middle school, I have always loved helping friends with passages from solo and ensemble and band pieces, no matter the instrument. Whether it was rhythms, notes or intonation, even if I didn't know how to play the instrument yet, I would use a fingering chart and help them however I could. During high school, I would help beginner students that have never made a sound on an instrument learn the basics of what the instrument parts do, how to blow/buzz on the mouthpiece, and how to read music and play the instrument along with the music. Even though the students often wanted to give up and many times gave up, I would not give up on the student, and would continue to not only try to make a valuable learning experience, but an enjoyable one that they would remember forever. Once I began to teach private lessons, I kept the same mindset. If the student is having a bad day and not soaking in as much information, I would make sure that there was something new they could perform to ensure they felt some sort of progress and enjoyed their time, whether is was a piece with a new note, or a new fingering or technique. If the student is not having fun or does not feel that they are making progress, they will not remember the information as well and will begin to feel as if learning the instrument is a chore instead of an enjoyable diverse art form.

For students who are beginners, I usually start with the Hal Leonard Essential Elements 2000 books. Not only are they a great source for fingering charts and basic instrument fundamentals, but they also offer great full band exercises in band balance and togetherness as well. Once the beginner student learns more fingerings and is able to read music from the book faster, I will give the student beginner etudes and studies to build their embouchure and fingering skills. After practice with those skills, I will give more challenging pieces and scale studies to start working on their proficiency on the instrument. The student will always get a choice in the amount of work and practice they would like to put in, but the more practice the better. Not only will my students get a choice in how much work they would like to put in, but also in what work they will be doing. If I recommend a piece that the student does not enjoy playing or is too difficult for them, I will accommodate their choice and give them a piece that better suits the student. For non-beginning players, I will look at the pieces they are already playing, and assist them in skills that still need work on their piece. After the piece they are already working on is better, I will assign more pieces and studies that will not only help them with skills that need work, but also improve the skills they are already great with. After many weeks of practicing new skills, I will assign harder pieces like full concertos or advanced jazz standards that will help their skills progress even further.