Clarinet Lessons in Valley City, OH

Instruments: Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet

My approaches change depending on a students age, experience, and personality. Every student is unique and has their own musical language to develop and it is my philosophy that unique students require unique approaches. All of that being said, I utilize lesson time as efficiently as possible to give students the tools they need to progress in their own solo practice. One of my teachers once said "I am only your teacher for an hour each week, that means for 167 hours a week you are your own teacher." This adage shaped my approach to lessons so that I can give students the ability to practice as effectively as possible. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

For beginner saxophone and clarinet players I tend to use the first book in the series from Standard of Excellence. After those first two books I move them into the Rubank Intermediate Series of books. For saxophonist, and even some clarinetist that would like to learn some jazz I use the Lennie Niehaus Jazz Conception Series. I always try to find what the student would like to learn to play and then guide my teaching from that point. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Organ Piccolo

I use the Alfred Piano series for most of my piano students. Woodwind students will use either Rubank or Hal Leonard series of books. During the first lesson, I will clarify the student's goals and needs and choose a book accordingly. I also add finger warm-ups and breathing exercises. Students are encouraged to pick a song from their own choosing to learn as a "fun-song". I try to cover these three things in every lesson, however I am flexible to meet the goals of my students. My professional motto is that I will do "Whatever it takes" for my students to succeed. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

Similar to The Suzuki Method.. I take the concept further enabling the student to conceptualize and visualize music utilizing Einstein's 'The Fabric of Space and Time'.. Materializing music from the invisible to the visible, in ones mind as well as on paper, bringing music full circle, or 360* degrees..Example: a rain bow has a definitive structure of 7 colors, 7 days in a week etc. 12 months in a year 12 weeks in a season.. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

I teach a combination of Rote and verbal, conveying my ideas while playing as an example. I realized my passion for music when I was teaching forty clarinetists during a band camp. They caught on to my personality and knew I wanted the best for them. This ultimately drove them to be better musicians. In a perfect world, I would rather teach the rest of my life without being paid and be able to support myself but unfortunately that is not how the world works. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Euphonium French Horn Tuba

I focus beginning students the value of good air support and aim to get them the best tone possible. From there, I get them playing songs that they recognize, teaching both by ear and with a method book. I believe it is important for students to be exposed to quality musicianship as often as possible, so I play for them regularly and have them try to copy my phrasing and sound. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

As a clarinet instructor, I always strive for bringing a wide variety of different artistic, technical and clarinet related aspects into my teachings. I find it crucial to be able to identify a certain students strengths or weaknesses. When us, teachers, do that, we are not only helping an individual student, we also expand our capacity as artists; we learn new ways to fix certain problems in ones playing. I believe that by staying open-minded with the ways we approach our teaching styles, we constantly learn how to become better, more flexible and always innovative when passing our knowledge to the students. Read More