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BM, Berklee College of Music, Trumpet Performance
2012 - Berklee City Music Scholarship
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I am a person that's inspired by music, and the trumpet itself. In 2016, I graduated from Berklee College of Music, with a Bachelor or Music in Trumpet Performance. I have always inspired to perform for a living, and to travel doing so. The experiences that I have gained while in college were incredible, with receiving amazing opportunities as well, with one example performing a tribute for Harry Belafonte, who came on stage to perform We Are The World with us.
In college, I started giving out lessons to Music Education friends who were learning trumpet for their brass profiency. I also gave some lessons to a friend who had no prior brass experience, and that experience was the main point in how I developed my beginner lessons. While rehearsing and practicing, I make sure to make exercises and the "maintenance" portion of trumpet interesting. Also, while in colle, for 3 years I worked as a Teacher's Assistant for a high school big band. During those years, I helped the horn section with understanding the music, and working in sectionals and individually, demonstrating what I was teaching in those moments.
Like Most trumpet players, I follow and believe in using essential trumpet books (Arbans, Clarke, Flexus, Schlossberg, etc) and use others that depend on the desires of the musician. For children and/or beginners, I incorporate a little keyboard, to help with some theory basics, since all the notes are laid out. I have always struggled with my musical interests differing from my teachers while growing, so I develop my lessons based on each student, and play music that will both incorporate the teachings of the lesson, and also play music that is enjoyable for them, as well as etudes, or anything they would like to work on.
The best lesson I learned before attending college, my trumpet teacher taught me, "If you sound good while practicing, you're not really practicing", which I make sure to mention multiple times. I never try to overload my students with too much material, but instead try to understand what they would like to learn, and develop lessons and exercises from that. Brass instruments require commitment, and although difficult, playing should seem fun, instead of a chore. I set goals for us both to accomplish, because teaching is also well for the teacher as well.