Trumpet Lessons in Portola Valley, CA

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet

With young students, I teach using the Royal Conservatory method. These books provide a good balance of technical development and quaity music. Once technical foundations are estabished, I will add ear training as well as theory and improvisation. For older students, I generally let them be the guide- whatever you want to work on is fine with me. Regardless of style, I try to make each lesson musical and fun. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet

My students fall in love with music and frankly they fall in love with me. Why? Because we, together, create beautiful music together and have fun and inspiring times. Teachers that drive their students to play and do homework produce people that give up on their instruments and then talk to me when they're 30 yrs old, filled with regret that they didn't continue. Not their fault! They were driven to hate their instrument. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet

In my lessons, I advocate for a strong emphasis on tone and technique. Getting these aspects of trumpet playing down are extremely important as the trumpet is a very physically demanding instrument. I have many different levels of method books to work from, but one of the biggest and most comprehensive is the Arban's book. It has exercises ranging from the most basic tone production, to very advanced tonguing and lip slur exercises and is great for students of all levels. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba Music

I teach all my students the fundamentals, including correct breathing and playing techniques. My young beginners usually start with an elementary method book plus exercises and songs customized for each student. I am familiar with and have taught from all of the books that are currently available. My favorites are Standard of Excellence, Essential Elements, Ed Sueta's Band Method, and Rubank's Method. For my more advanced students, I use Arban's Complete Conservatory Method. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Music Keyboard

For my brass students I use exercises from the greatest brass instructors and players to have ever live: Gordon, Dr. Colins, Arban, and Clark. For wood wind students: Kevnitt, Rubank's, and Schlossberg For Piano Student: Hanon, Simon, and Alfred's Teaching Method AND MANY MORE!! In addition, my students work on solos and pieces of music of their choosing. Though I guide them and offer suggestions from the classical, jazz, pop canons, they ultimately choose the songs they work on. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba

For my students on I usually have them play out of the Alfred's Basic Piano Library. For other instruments we usually look at where students levels are at and work from there. From there I find what they like to practice and work on so they are able to grow. I also give my students scales each week to work on to use as warm-ups and build their dexterity. For my students we also look at the theory behind the music we are playing and use various theory worksheets that work on rhythm or we work out of a basic theory book that works best for the student. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Ukulele Recorder Euphonium French Horn Tuba Music

I begain teaching as a band assistant in college. I would lead sectionals and work with students who where struggiling one on one. As I gained experiance my role and responsibly grew and I began to run rehearsals and plan for concerts. One aspect of lessons that I emphasise is musicality. Often I will ask my students to listen to the song that they are working on or watch the movie or tv show it comes from because it is important to hear and see the bigger picture. Read More