Music Lessons in Wilton, CT

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

Originally from Dallas, TX, I have nearly 20 years of music education experience at the elementary, secondary, and adult/college levels. After graduating from The University of North Texas, I spent several years as a band director in DFW before moving abroad to teach and perform. Recently, after spending 7 years as a professional musician in New York City, I realized how much I missed teaching in Texas! So it's time to return to my home and do for students what my music teachers did for me many years ago. Read More

Instruments: Voice

I have a tried and true set of vocal building exercises (also known as "warmups") that I use with all of my students. These exercises help to strengthen students middle voices, extend their ranges, increase their agility, and increase their stamina. I combine these exercises with carefully assigned repertoire to promote growth and functional freedom. I love to have my students sing in many different genres because our voices are muscles, and I believe that they should be cross-trained so one can be as versatile and flexible as possible. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone

I have been teaching trumpet, improvisation and theory for ten years and have worked with students from beginner to professional level. I have taught private students, clinics, summer workshops and full band classes. I have worked with the Juilliard Outreach Program, Yamaha Canada, the Sterling Hall School and Roy Thompson Hall's 'Save the Music' program. I have also given university level workshops at schools such as Humber College, Vancouver Island University, Snow College, and the University of Toronto. Read More

Instruments: Voice

Being a teacher is a very enjoyable and honorable job which I take seriously. I like to see my students progress and enjoy themselves at the same time. For that I create a plan for each student, which is divided into smaller groups I call goals. At the end of each goal I like to present the progress to each student so that they may realize the potential they have to grow as a musician and as a professional. Read More

Instruments: Drums

Through my years of lessons and practice, I've narrowed down the fundamentals into two books based around Rock and Jazz: Ultimate Realistic Rock by Carmine Appice and Advanced Techniques for the modern drummer by Jim Chapin. I also teach rudiments through the practice pad to sharpen control and speed when playing drumset. Through these books and rudiments you'll build a solid foundation that will make learning more advanced grooves or fills easier to play. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Keyboard

The books I recommend purchasing for piano students is much more dependent on their goals and level of playing. Older drum students can expect to study concepts such as The Rudimental Ritual by Alan Dawson. Older piano students can expect to study chart reading found in The Real Book. I have ideas regarding lesson plans for students but my most important goal is to understand what the student WANTS to study and help them achieve their short term and long term goals in music. Read More

Instruments: Flute

I use a big diversity of books and methods for my flute classes, that I pick trying to adapt to my students' age and interests. With little children I use many short and simple songs, that get more and more complex while the students are progressing. I like to introduce solo repertoire as soon as possible, to start developing the students' personal taste for music. I also encourage them to bring their own suggestions about the pieces or songs they want to play, and I create personalized technique exercises to improve the specific difficulties that they find along their practice. Read More