Trombone Lessons in Cragin, IL

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium Tuba

The most important thing that I can teach a student is good habits. One of my first teachers always said "I'm not here to teach you to play the trombone, I'm here to teach you how to practice the trombone." That has esentially been my teaching philosophy since then. The half hour to an hour that I would be spending with a student each week is not enough time to turn them into a great trombone player, so the most important thing to do in lessons is to teach them how to practice the instrument when I am not in the room with them. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Ukulele Recorder Euphonium French Horn Tuba Electric Guitar Djembe

The approach, overall, is to drive toward the student's goal. When someone wants to learn how to play an instrument well enough to play in a band or orchestra, I usually consider two needs - playing music and interpreting written music. These are basic parts of education, literally easy to define by achieving pages in etude books. In addition, though, there is a third component to meeting the set goal: writing music - a sensibility that you can create. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Recorder Euphonium Tuba Mallet Percussion

I like to get to know the student as I am teaching so I create small breaks to get to know who I am teachign and their interest, so that I may taylor my lessons to the student. For beginning students I like to use essential elements books as a guide for their practice. For adults I try to find out their long term goals and taylor my lessons to gettimng them to reach that goal. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Trumpet Trombone Bass Guitar Recorder Euphonium French Horn Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I start my students with a single lesson where I gain a knowledge about the student's musical abilities and personality. I don't generally start with a single method book, because I believe that in individual lessons, the methods used should be tailored to fit the student. I will pull from Essential Elements, Accent on Achievement, and Standard of Excellence, as well as writing and devising my own warm ups and methods. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

In addition to teaching trombone, music appreciation, and tutoring music theory, I have performed with the Tallahassee Symphony, Sinfonia Gulf Coast Orchestra, Lebanon Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Southwest Florida Symphony, and several other orchestras, wind bands, musicals, chamber groups, and jazz ensembles throughout Florida and Ohio. My father is an organist and so my upbringing has always been around classical music, but I have learned that all types of music are based on the same principles: solid technique, good concept of sound, and creative expression. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Euphonium Music Keyboard

I am a passionate music educator with over 10 years as an instructor and performer. As an instructor, I am licensed by the Illinois State Board of Education to teach K-12 Instrumental, Vocal, and General Music. I teach full-time as a High School Band Director in addition to running a private studio. I am able to teach piano and most band instruments [woodwinds and brass]. I am a Grammy nominated music educator. Read More