Clarinet Lessons in Bogota, NJ

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

My relationship with music making began at the age of 7 when I begrudgingly agreed to take piano lessons at the nudging of my parents. In the first lesson, my teacher taught me the theme from The Simpsons, and I was sold. It would be years before I would actually become competent at turning notes on a page into something musically expressive, but that day I went home knowing I had found something special, and that inertia has carried me to where I am today. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Music Keyboard

Over the course of many years, I've developed a method for beginning piano and woodwind students which yields excellent results. For the first series of lessons, I want the student to become comfortable in understanding the keyboard or the wind instrument, avoiding the secondary interface of sight reading. There are about twenty short, simple, basic songs I have the student master. At this point, not only are we working on understand the harmonic and melodic "hardware" of the keyboard or horn, but we are developing proper technique in terms of hand position, posture and sound as well as a natural rhythmic feel. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Piccolo

For Beginning students, I use Hal Leonard's Essential Elements and for the little more advanced Rubank's Elementary Method, Moyse For the beginning Debutant. For intermediate and advanced students will cover Moyse: De la Sonorite, Taffanel & Gaubert Daily Exercise Book, Trevor Wye's Practice Books for the Flute, Patricia George The Flute Scale Book, Reichert7 Exercises journaliers pour la flûte, Op.5. Among the other method book, we will work on your concert and competition pieces. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Clarinet Recorder

I begin my teaching by gauging the student's current ability; once it has been recognised, I then inquire about what it is the student wishes to accomplish under my tutelage. I weed out any early misgivings by trying to get the student to settle for realistic goals. Aiming too high can often overwhelm individuals, and it is a mistake I like to avoid in my teaching, especially in a field as emotionally demanding as music. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

For beginning young students I prefer the Rubank Elementary Method for saxophone, clarinet and flute, and my own (unpublished) method for recorder. For older beginners, there are many books on the market. I'll work with what the student perfers. For more advanced students there are classic works such as Klose for clarinet or saxophone, solo works for competition or performance, or just for fun. I want recorder students to learn the 2 basic sets of fingering, since ensemble playing usually requires changing instruments. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Clarinet Keyboard

Beginning Piano Students: I use three books in the Piano Adventures series: (Performance, Lesson, and Theory). I work composition into the lesson using the Orff-Schulwerk technique of elemental music creation. In addition, I supplement written musical work as needed. Voice Students: I interview all voice students first to see what their goals are in voice study. I then begin vocal study with the study of posture using Alexander Technique ideas, and a study of breathing and support techniques. Read More

Instruments: Violin Viola Clarinet

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a student's desire to progress, and makes students eager to learn more. By trying to find out what inspires the student, I can successfully tailor my instruction to their wants and needs. Read More