Trumpet Lessons in Elmsford, NY

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet

My teaching is based on the thought that everone can be comfortable with making music. Since comfort comes best when things are fun, I like to focus on music that the student likes. This usually involves improvising as soon as a student knows a few notes, which creates a chance for self-expression and leads to confidence in playing with others. I also place emphasis on phrasing, My experience is that many students get wrapped up in the mechanical process of playing at the expense of musicality. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba

I started teaching privately in college at Florida State University, and was even asked to teach for the F.S.U. summer jazz camp as the middle school instructor for their big band. I also taught trombone masterclasses as well as a small group. In New York I've taught privately for 5 years, and have also had the opportunity to work with elementary schools in the city doing jazz presentations through my Master's degree program at Manhattan School of Music. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone

My particular brand of brass pedagogy has roots that trace back to the Chicago Symphony's legendary Bud Herseth. I believe in the pursuit of mastery of many of the basic techniques of brass playing - air movement, flexibility, and tone are the most important pieces of what we do as brass players, and I have collected an arsenal of exercises to build skill in these areas. I use a collection of techniques from a wide range of trumpet players from Ray Mase to Allen Vizzutti to Michael Sachs and will use these approaches to define musical outlook and technique. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Music

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at their own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a student's desire to progress and makes students eager to learn more. By trying to find out what inspires the student, I can successfully tailor my instruction to their wants and needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet

Here are the things that I want to impart to my piano students in their first 10 weeks of lessons: That I love music and I love teaching them That music lessons are creative and exploratory That creating music is fun and easy That music can tell stories That music is more than pushing down keys That music is art and involves dynamics, speed, feeling, etc. That singing and moving to music is just a part of how we do things in music education That playing the piano the right way (ie. with the right technique) is really important The importance of understanding, feeling and moving to meter (duple/triple) The concept of home, tonic/dominant tonalities and being able to hear and create bass lines That music is made up of chords, patterns, and melodies That they can transpose music into different keys I use Alfred Piano Method, it also dives into intervallic reading, as described above. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I come from a diverse and varied musical environment. As the son of two professional musicians, I learned very early on the value of being a multi-instrumentalist. I continued on in Piano, Trumpet, and eventually guitar, all the way through college and beyond. I've been blessed with many different types of opportunities from playing weddings, to political events, fundraisers, and touring the country and internationally. I've also been fortunate enough to who have been involved in songwriting and composing for all styles of music, and many different instruments and musicians. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone

I strive to give my students all the tools they need to become complete musicians who can play, listen and connect with music on an active level. I work with my students to develop a strong technical foundation on their instrument, from which we can explore harmony, rhythmic training, ear training and theory. Beginner students will eventually be able to read and interpret sheet music, improvise, learn songs by ear, and compose music. Read More