Trombone Lessons in Portola Valley, CA

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Ukulele Recorder Euphonium French Horn Tuba Music

Making sure that the student is having fun, learning and achieving their musical goals is most important. I understand that each student progresses at their own pace and has diffrent goals and desires. While there are certian excersises that everyone needs to work on, solos and concert pieces are what students are drawn to. Therefore, I make sure that students are working on fun and challenging pieces that will keep them engaged in music. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet

So I endeavor to strive first for great sound. 2. Counting: Furthermore, horn players play in horn sections about 90% of the time. Therefore, it is critical that the horn player count extremely accurate so that the section is tight. Also, on live shows or recording sessions, accuracy and execution is imperative for a good performance. So I lay a counting foundation and delve deeply into the subject. Sound and Counting, then everything else. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trombone

I began teaching private lessons while I was still in college around 2005 and have had few private students. Ive taught and coached jazz band, concert band, and orchestra youth programs like Stanford Jazz, The Jazzschool, and Golden State Youth Orchestra. The students I work with learn the fundamentals and mechanics of the instrument, the understanding of musical language and theory, how it relates to the world, expression of feelings, thoughts and ideas, and the overall joy and fulfillment of playing music on trombone. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba Music

I've been teaching the brass instruments for over 30 years, and I love to teach my students! I teach all ages, and I tailor my teaching to the student's own pace and abilities. I'm very good at sizing up students and telling them exactly what they need to do to instantly improve their playing. I also include some education in music theory as part of our lessons. I assist and encourage my students to become the best musicians they can be, which includes learning different styles of music, composing their own music, and preparing for auditions and competitions. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am an experienced trombonist and teacher with degrees from the New England Conservatory and California State University at East Bay (MA in Music anticipated Fall 2020). I have been teaching since the 1990s, and performing all over the world since the early 2000s. My primary instrument is on trombone, but have had students on tuba, euphonium, and beginning trumpet as well. My performance experience is primarily in the jazz, pop, and rock genres, but am conservatory-trained and well-equipped to prepare young students to enter the classical world as well. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Euphonium

For beginners, I use the Standards of Excellence book, especially if they are young children because that is the book that they will most likely use in middle school or high school. These books are good for teaching the fundamentals. I also assign a solo piece based on skill level along with an excerpt of a song that the student wants to learn. For more advanced students I use the Arban's book because all trumpet players learn from this book; from intermediate players all the way up to professionals. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium

I expect practice of the assignments that I give for my private trombone lessons and am a proponent of getting my students to work hard on any weaknesses in their playing. I do set realistic goals and make sure that my trombone students are comfortable with meeting those goals. I encourage trombone students to find new material that they want to do in the future and structure my lessons with the end goal of accomplishing what the student wants to achieve on the trombone. Read More