Jonathan A
Instruments: Trombone, Euphonium
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Marching Band
Jonathan A
Instruments: Trombone, Euphonium
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Marching Band
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
I started playing music in 5th grade, when I was 11 years old. While I had spent my first year playing trumpet, I had switched to euphonium before I started my 6th grade year and have been playing that and trombone ever since. I spent my high school and community college years playing jazz music on both instruments, and began playing classical euphonium both in high school and when the ensembles became available upon start at TCNJ. I have recently graduated from TCNJ with a Bachelor's in music. Today, I spend my time searching out opportunities to perform professionally as well as looking to spread my knowledge to aspiring musicians.
My teaching experience began in my years at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC). Next to the music building, I began to volunteer at the local daycare that was right next to the arts building. That experience is what led me to want to become a studio instructor. After those 3 years passed, I was unfortunately unable to teach privately through my time at TCNJ, as I was learning as many new techniques and tricks for both the euphonium and the trombone as I possible could. I was also encouraged to perform solo as well as with small ensembles, and I plan to encourage any student to do the same, as it brings on a feeling of both accomplishment and satisfaction. x
In the first lesson, I always make sure to spend the time gauging the student's skill level. For beginners, I will look to introduce them to Herbert L. Clarke's studies in technique for euphonium players. For trombones, I look to be sure they are hitting trombone positions accurately and quickly, using either the same Clarke book or by using the first exercises in Arban's essentials for trombone.
At the intermediate level, I begin to use the Rochut etude books so that all students can grasp musicality and phrasing in a simple setting. It is here that I will begin to introduce solo pieces, generally based on a mix of what the student is good at and needs improvement on. These solos could either be picked by myself or the student.
At advanced levels, I like to teach what I have learned about multi-tonguing and multiphonics (to play and sing simultaneuosly. Here is when the material is based on what the student enjoys playing.
I look to be sure that each student enjoys the material as well as music as a whole. Therefore, each student should be able to progress at their own pace. As a student progresses, I do have an admittedly bad habit of speeding up material a bit too much, so I encourage all students to let me know when something is too much for them. As i look to select material, I like to do a 5 minute test run of the piece to ensure that students enjoy the material before assigning it. I typically like to assign at least one etude a week whenever possible to ensure that students maintain musicality. Above all else, the most important thing to me as a teacher is to know that a student is playing well and does not feel that there is too much pressure.
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