Kevin K
Instruments: Piano, Saxophone, Clarinet, Recorder, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Musical Theater, Opera, Showtunes, Marching Band, Avant-garde
Kevin K
Instruments: Piano, Saxophone, Clarinet, Recorder, Keyboard
Styles:
Classical, Musical Theater, Opera, Showtunes, Marching Band, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
MA, University of Chicago, Humanities (Music Composition) BS, College of William and Mary, Music and Physics
Humanities Fellowship Scholarship (University of Chicago) Commission for the 75th Commemoration of the Chicago Pile-1 Honors Fellow (W&M Music Department) William G. DeFotis Scholarship (W&M Music Department) Aurelia Behm Walford Scholarship in Classical Music (W&M Music Department)
I'm a composer and musician based in NYC who loves to share my passion for the arts with others. I graduated from the College of William and Mary with a double major in music and physics. During my studies there, I played clarinet in the music department. Additionally, I played both clarinet and alto saxophone in the theater department. During my master's degree at the University of Chicago, I played clarinet in the university symphony orchestra. On top of playing music for my whole life, I've also pursued music composition, and have played my own pieces for clarinet and electronics all around the world, including NYC, Estonia, and Finland.
I'm just starting out pursuing teaching as a professional. During my undergraduate degree, I gave some piano lessons to a next door neighbor, and also also tutored my professor's daughter in music theory. Those moments were crucial for developing what I want to be doing: infusing music lessons with music theory and composition. I feel that learning to play music becomes an entire new experience when one understands the theory behind what they are playing and and furthermore is excited about generating their own material.
I have 3 methods/philosophies:
1) The student should be excited about what they are playing! I like to stay away from methods books and dive into real repertoire. I have no limitations on genre, but I am personally excited about classical music, which includes contemporary classical music/experimental art.
2) If interested, I would like the student to learn the basics of music theory so that the music they are playing is brought to a new level of understanding. Hand-in-hand with this, I would like the student to understand the basic physical functions of their instrument. For example, understanding why a certain this button make a certain note.
3) If the student is interested in composing their own music, this is something I would love to work with them on! As a composer, I've had my music premiered all around the world, including France, Spain, Estonia, and all around the US. I've worked with professional ensembles and know the ins-and-outs about creating a piece of music and seeing it through to its premiere.
My teaching style is simple: let the student decide what they want to pursue, and then push them in that direction! After all, that's how I was trained. My only goal is that the student is excited about what they are learning and playing. I will tailor every lesson plan to the student's personal interests, and make sure that goals are realistic such that the student feels that they are making progress. I want the student to feel good about what they are doing, and to be proud of the progress that they are making!
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