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DMA in progress, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Bass Trombone Artist Certificate, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Bass Trombone MM, Indiana University, Trombone Performance BM, University of Florida, Trombone Performance
2005- Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship
2006- Performed at WASBE conference in Singapore with University of Florida Wind Symphony
2010- Indiana University Artistic Excellence award
2014- Went on tour to China with UMKC Chamber Ensemble
I am an experienced and motivated musician that enjoys sharing my passion for music with others. I am currently a doctoral student at the UMKC conservatory on scholarship, and the trombone instructor at Truman State University. I have played in many different ensembles, including orchestras, jazz bands, brass quintets, brass bands and funk bands, in addition to playing trombone for many local productions of broadway shows. I have had the wonderful opportunity to play at festivals and conferences in Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing and Napa Valley.
I have taught trombone lessons since 2000, when I lived in Gainesville, FL. Over the past several years I have moved to different states to pursue my education, but I have always made time to teach several students, from young junior high students to students working on a master's degree. I'm flexible about my expectations from each student, but I try to motivate students to achieve their own personal goal. After establishing a goal of regular, consistent practice of fundamental skills, students will work on musicality and technique through the performance of solo literature and etudes.
I like beginning students to work out of the method recommended by their band teacher, until they are ready to start playing from Rubank’s elementary method for trombone. From there students can progress to the advanced method, and work from Arban’s method and Rochut’s melodious etudes. Students interested in orchestral playing can start with Blazhevich’s Clef Studies. Duets corresponding to the student’s level are played at the start of each lesson to help develop the student’s sound and intonation.
By establishing goals and and regular practice habits, students will realize they are progressing on their instrument, and getting better. It is fun to be a good musician! And the better you are on your instrument, the more fun you can have. I try to find out what inspires a student, and let them realize how rewarding the study of a musical instrument can become. To do this, I encourage students to listen to recordings or local performances, and tell me what they like and why.