Jessica D  
Instruments: Clarinet
Styles: Classical, Musical Theater, Opera, Showtunes, Marching Band

My first memories of teaching goes back to middle school when I would tutor the younger students in my classes!  My love for teaching grew and throughout my college and post-college experience I taught clarinet lessons, music theory and appreciation to students of all ages.  From working with Pre-K children through older adults, I make each lesson personal and an experience for each student. I am a classically trained conservatory clarinetist who has played with many orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the Northeast.  I have also become an avid arranger, making arrangements of Broadway and Show Music for a classical ensemble.  I love being able to cross the different styles of clarinet, and would love to teach students that have a desire to be a proficient player in any of those styles. When beginning lessons, we have a conversation about what the students' goals are, whether it be classical or other styles, and what they hope to accomplish (entering competitions, auditioning for programs, putting on recitals, etc.).

Every student develops at their own pace, and I am dedicated to creating a curriculum for every one.  I like to break down lessons into three sections.  The methods used vary based on the current level of the student. 1.  Scales/Fundamentals/Long Tones:  Scales are the focal point of Western Music.  We will gain the skills of learning and memorizing scales to establish the proper fundamentals. I will teach the student several ways of practicing Long Tones in order to develop their clarinet tone. 2.  Etudes/Exercises:  Etudes combine learning of the scales, with phrasing, character and expression.  There are multitudes of etude books and exercises that we can explore to find the right match. 3.  Solo (and/or chamber music, audition music, etc.):  The last part of lessons focus on any music that students are currently working on or would like to challenge themselves with.  Whether it is an audition, recital, or competition, we will take the time to learn the music you love to play!