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BA, University of Maryland, Music Education
2009 - Nominated for First Year Teacher Award 2010 - Assistant Conductor for Northern Virginia Community Band 2014 - Awarded Teacher Scholarship - Wright State University 2017-18 - Choir Director for National Anthem Competition Winners
My students describe me as passionate, creative, interesting, and fun! After getting my bachelor's degree in music education from University of Maryland, I taught general, band, and strings in Montgomery County in Maryland. Then I taught ukulele, keyboard, drums, guitar, band, and choir in Dayton, Ohio. Now I am excited to teach lessons in Pittsburgh. While my main instrument is saxophone, where I teach all levels, I love to teach beginners on a variety of instruments, from voice and piano to keyboard and djembe!
I have experienced music in large variety of groups, from funk bands, to jazz bands, choirs, saxophone quartets, drum circles, as well as recording and mixing my own album. Music is about connections: there's nothing that the experience of music doesn't affect! When you take lessons from me, you know you are getting a great foundation of music for life, from reading music, theory, and correct technique, as well as something as broad as composition, improvisation, music technology, even dance! You know that you are getting a real-life, down to earth approach to lessons when you start music with me.
For piano students, I prefer Alfred's methods, whether the adult or for beginners. For band and orchestra, I use Essential Elements (or whatever their school is using), and supplement with Rubank's methods. For voice, I concentrate on whatever the student is interested in, with a foundation of good technique and understanding of the voice range and how to control it, with some solfege and sight-singing mixed in. Whatever the instrument, I follow and listen to the student to understand what they need, and change my curriculum to suit them.
My style is focused but fun! I ask my students to practice every day. While this may sound daunting, it's really the only way to make progress in music. My students know that I have many different ways to teach something, and I never give up! When a student struggles with a concept or technique, I love to dive into the nitty gritty of the situation until we've found a solution. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than seeing steady progress of my students. My students would describe me as fun and enthusiastic, with plenty of praise and help!