Trumpet Lessons in Snow Camp, NC

Instruments: Trumpet

I began teaching students in earnest during my senior year of undergraduate school in 1984-85. Prior to graduate school I was an adjunct trumpet teacher at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC. Part of my graduate assistantship was as an instructor and since graduation I have helped a number of students from beginner to intermediate level achieve their goals in both classical and non classical settings. I have played professionally in a number of different touring groups as well as played in backup bands for national and international artists. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone Ukulele

I start with the end in mind. Once your student has established clear, realistic goals with me, all the focus is on reaching those goals. It is also made clear that it is the student's responsibility to come into each lesson showing clear evidence that they've practiced the music. I'm stern about this. If the student hasn't put in the time, I will send the student home mid-lesson and they lose that lesson. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet

For students of all ages and skill sets I first like to establish a personalized daily routine of fundamental exercises such as long tones, lip slurs, tone production and articulation if not already had. I use the Bill Adam approach to teaching my establishing a strong core understanding and playing of the instrument. Then working exercises out of the Arbans book, charlier etudes, and Clarke studies to better enhance performance ability. Read More

Instruments: Voice Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet

My teaching experience includes serving as a middle school band director, high school band director, middle school choir director, high school choir director, elementary school general music and choir teacher, and elementary school clarinet teacher. The youngest student I've ever taught was six years old, and I'm happy to work with children, adolescents, and adults. During undergrad in college, I also worked the music theory tutoring lab giving theory lessons to college students, so if a high school student is studying music theory, I would be able to assist with that as well. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Music Djembe

I create my own lesson plans (and some materials) specific to each student. Some standard books I use are Alfred's Drum Method book 1, The New Breed, Portraits in Rhythm, The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary to name a few. The books are necessary for developing music literacy, however I remind students that the pages don't make sound!!! Developing a discerning ear is paramount in my approach. Therefore we do a lot of listening and I engage students in dialogue for them to develop a personalized mental image of what they are trying to play. Read More