Trombone Lessons in Whittier, CO

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet

My teaching experience began in Webster, South Dakota as their high school band director for 11 years. I was then invited to move back to my college town of Brookings, South Dakota to be their middle school band director. I moved to Sioux Falls and taught in the Catholic School System for a number of years. Then I was fortunate to teach my last 11 years in beautiful southern California where I taught instrumental music at elementary to high school levels. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

For beginning students I teach the fundamentals: holding the instrument, explaining how it works, and then how to make a sound. I focus on sound first and foremost, trying to make a pure sound, and then hearing and being able to understand how the instrument works. I don't get into simply reading exercises until the student has a firm grasp and enthusiasm for the instrument. With older students I work with what their goals are; for example if All-State Band is the goal we focus on playing band excerpts and the level of fundamentals needed to get there. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trombone

I believe lessons should be fun and engaging. I believe the most improvement in a student comes from practice time, so my goal as a teacher is to show the student how to practice most effectively by applying what they learned in their lessons in their practice sessions. If it is all right with them, we can record the lesson so they can go back and watch. As a teacher, I believe it is important to be positive and supporting, giving constructive criticism guide the student to play better while also boosting the student's confidence. Read More

Instruments: Voice Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Recorder Euphonium French Horn Tuba Oboe Bassoon

I attended school at Valley Head High School in Valley Head, Alabama and attended college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I have performed all over the country, and my musical arrangements, compositions, and marching drill design have been performed all over the world. Music has been my life for almost 20 years, and I wouldn't trade any of my experiences in performance for anything in this world! I have since taught at Cedar Bluff High School and Valley Head High School, working with band and choir students. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba

When I'm working with beginning students, my defaul method book is Essential Elements. However, if students have another book for a school band class, I am more then happy to work with them to preserve some line of consistency in the students education. As they progress, I look to find more advanced etude and solo books, focusing on music that is of interest to the student. Practicing music should be fun, and I try to make it fun, while maintaining an emphasis on fundamentals and musicianship. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Recorder Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Euphonium French Horn Tuba Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn

I ask all of my students to be prepared for their lessons with a notebook and pencil for lesson notes and assignments. I ask them to bring any materials they have and will often recommend books and supplemental material I have had success with. I believe in writing down notes that help students understand what they are learning, exactly what students should practice, and setting goals for their practice and overall progress. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trombone Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Euphonium Tuba Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard

I am a passionate musician, educator, conductor, and composer, and I have been happily obsessed with music since I began piano lessons at age 10. I joined the school band program in 6th grade, and since then, I have learned how to play and teach many different instruments. My primary instrument is percussion, but I play piano, low brass, clarinet, bass guitar, and I also have perfect pitch. I also have had opportunities to share my love of music by arranging and composing for my own students as well as being commissioned by school band programs. Read More