Eric D
5.0
(4)
Instruments: Trumpet, French Horn
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Swing, Marching Band
Eric D
5.0
(4)
Instruments: Trumpet, French Horn
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Swing, Marching Band
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 7-80
Master Degree, Master Degree: Indiana State University School of Music
I’m an entertaining and engaging music educator with more than a decade of experience working with students and instrumentalists in middle school, high school, and college. I’m a graduate of the University of Southern Maine and Indiana State University, and I’m active as a composer, arranger, trumpet player, and conductor around the Northeast United States. I’m also currently a Middle school music teacher in RI, and I help run summer camp programs for student leaders in high school band programs.
I have been teaching private lessons and public school bands for over fifteen years in Southern New England. I have extensive experience working with both classical music students and marching band techniques. I currently a trumpet player with the Narragansett Bay Symphony and perform regularly around RI. My teaching approach focuses on developing sound fundamentals (while having fun!) that will help the student perform any style of music they wish. My goal is for every student to have a musical outlet for the rest of their life, not just while they take lessons with me. Empowerment and independence are key! My middle and high school students are highly encouraged to participate in RIMEA All-State, and Solo and Ensemble events.
I am a firm believer in "sound before sight" techniques at the very beginning. Students will learn strong fundamentals and start making a great sound that will encourage them to keep on playing. Eventually, written music is essential, and I tend to use a wide variety of printed books including various "band" methods (Essential Elements, Sound Innovations, etc.) I'm happy to work with whichever book students are required to have for their in-school lessons. Most importantly, though, I feel that private lessons should focus on the student and their needs/wants in music. We will mostly work on exercises and music that are separate from the in-school lessons. This is more than just "extra help", this is the student's chance to excel and do more and better than they have a chance to do in their school bands.
I love most when students know the joy of performing music really well. I am not one to let students stagnate, but as the saying goes, "If it's not fun, why do it?" I firmly believe that my biggest job as a teacher is to help students learn to love the music that they are playing, not necessarily to only play "fun" music but to develop a deep love for music that is challenging and rewarding. Like nutrition, we need snacks and sweets in moderation, and we need healthy sustaining fruits, vegetables, and proteins. In music, we need to play fun popular styles and also dig in on the music that will be joyful and dear to us after we've taken the time to learn and understand it.
Cheryl Fogarty
Eric has been providing my son with private trumpet lessons for about a year. Eric is kind and patient with my son. He always makes sure that Dale understands the material and challenges him every step of the way. My son has progressed more than we could have ever hoped in this amount of time. With our busy schedule Eric is always flexible and accommodating. He is always on time and is reasonabley priced. We have been very impressed with Eric's services.
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