Trombone Lessons in Cragin, IL

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba Music Keyboard

I started teaching music when I was a junior in high school. I continued teaching private lessons through my college career to local grade school and high school students. College was where I learned how to teach and play strings, woodwinds, percussion, voice, and piano in addition to brass. Once I graduated with my Bachelor's degree, I taught as the adjunct professor of low brass at Saint Joseph's College teaching tuba, trombone, euphonium, and capstone performance courses to the college's music majors. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trombone

The methods I use to teach depend on a number of factors. For enrolled in beginner band at their school, I will use whichever method their school is using. If the school is not using a specific method, I use the Rubank method supplemented with my own materials. For more advanced players I assign various etude books, jazz play along books, and method books based on the students needs. I provide all the materials for my beginning piano students for the first few months, then assign method books based on the student's interests. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

I have a variety of method books, solos, and exercises to work with, but I like discovering the music that each student finds both challenging and rewarding rather than expecting every student to work on the same material. Read More

Instruments: Trombone

For beginning students, I typically start with breathing exercises geared towards tone production as well as mouthpiece buzzing to start strengthening the student's embouchure. For more developed students, I try to guide them accordingly around their interests to keep the lessons fresh and more importantly, FUN. A typical lesson will consist of but not limited to, warm-up Call and Response exercises, where the student mirrors what I play. This is not only a time for them to develop aural skills, but to also hear and see professional playing up close and gives the student an example in developing their own musical concept. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium Tuba

I've been very lucky to have had fantastic teachers throughout my musical career. I try to adapt the same methods that they used with me while I was first learning to play. I pretty much tailor lessons to each specific student's needs as there are no 2 students who are exactly the same. Everyone will have different things they do well and it is my job as the teacher to help them develop the specific things that they need to work on. Read More

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

I am a teacher who looks to make music both fun and rewarding. As well as teaching the student how to make beautiful music, I also try and tie in our lessons as a way to becoming a better citizen. The habits that we form as a musicians will help us as individuals. Things like setting and working towards goals, tracking and monitoring progress, and educating ourselves beyond the lesson room are all things that will serve my students as individuals, no matter what discipline or situation that they will find themselves in down the road. Read More

Instruments: Trombone Euphonium

Depending on the level of the student, there is a sequence over time of method and etude books that I use in my lessons. I also incorporate solo repertoire and encourage my students to take part in activities such as the IMEA Solo and Ensemble Competitions. Regardless of the students ability, teaching fundamentals of the instrument are my priority. I encourage students to practice daily, so that our lessons together can be as fun and productive as possible. Read More