Samuel M
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet, Drums, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin, Recorder, Euphonium, Music, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Pop, Rock, Folk, Spirituals, Marching Band, Punk
Samuel M
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet, Drums, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin, Recorder, Euphonium, Music, Keyboard, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Pop, Rock, Folk, Spirituals, Marching Band, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 6-80
Bachelor Degree: Illinois Wesleyan University, Teaching Certificate: Illinois Wesleyan University
2008: Sousa Award - Tremont High School
2008: THS Band Award - Tremont High School
I started playing music over 20 years ago when I first learned the trumpet in elementary school. As my talent grew, my passion for music expanded into other instruments. By the time I graduated high school I had performed on trumpet, guitar, mandolin, drums, and voice, and was still branching out. I played low brass (euphonium) in college, and continued to perform on more instruments including the euphonium/baritone, piano and bass guitar. In my teaching career, I have continued to learn more and perform on new instruments, including ukulele. Throughout my journey, I have performed in school bands and orchestras, rock bands, classic rock bands, punk bands, worship bands, pop bands, community bands, school choirs, and church choirs. I've been a church organist and even performed in a castle in Canada! In recent years, I have been using YouTube as an outlet for my musical ideas.
I started teaching private lessons on trumpet when I was in High School. In college, I began teaching private lessons on euphonium/baritone. After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education (BME), I taught 2 years in K-5 general music/JH-HS Choir and 7 years K-12 general music. Throughout my entire journey, I have been involved in multiple performing groups, and I have been in charge of music for multiple churches and religious groups. I have directed musicals, put on talent shows, hosted festivals, and taken dozens of students to solo/ensemble contests. I've even dabbled in songwriting and composing my own music. After 9 years in public education, I am looking to focus on private lessons.
I believe that all students are different, and that there can be many definitions of what it means to "learn an instrument." Many people can strum chords without being able to read sheet music, others can sight-read sheet music flawlessly but have no concept of how to improvise. I believe that the student should identify what they want to be able to accomplish, and start with that end point in mind. I think that having a single starting point for everyone's end goal usually ends up being a waste of time. Students learn best when they WANT to learn, and when they have a degree of control and a sense of understanding WHY they are learning what they are learning. I play lots of different instruments, but most of them I learned in a different manner than any others.
Music is an amazing tool for expressing emotions. Therefore, the process of learning an instrument, in my opinion, should not be an emotionless, never changing process. If a student is feeling sad on the day of a lesson, why should I expect them to play a happy tune? If they are excited, why should I limit them to a slow sonata? I believe music is best experienced in the moment, playing what you feel, and as those moments gain more consistency, then more of a focus can be put on long-term goals.
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