Trumpet Lessons in Valhalla, NY

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Music Keyboard

I like for a student to look at a piece of music and then to explain to me what they think it is. Their perception is different than my perception and I can learn a lot about how to teach them based on how much they may already understand or do not understand. Understanding musical concepts and musical language is important and I emphasize getting basic concepts right immediately. If a student has a misconception about something I try to correct it so they can move forward make progress. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet

Every student is different, so in my view, every student will have a different path he or she takes- it's my job to provide the map. As such, there are some standard pedagogical tools I use- Arban, Schlossberg, Clarke, etc.- but I'll often customize certain things to create greater learning value and to address a particular challenge or musical interest. For beginning students, there's the additional challenge of learning a new language- musical notation, fingerings, etc. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Bass Guitar Double Bass

I divided my lesson in four parts: Make find your own sound, Technique, HarmonyEar Training, Repertoire. If you are beginner student is a different intensity and difficulty than for a intermediate or advance student, but the approach is the same. I don't care about the lesson in itself, but I care that the student create his/her own musical path. I put a lot of passion in my teaching and I work for the student outside the lesson as well; making specific backing track and exercise for the specific student or helping him/her out for get in a band or to auditioning for music schools. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet

I've had a number of devoted teachers and being in New York there's always a chance to learn something new by simply saying hello to a musician. I look at teaching as sharing information enthusiastically and giving a student a chance to check in about issues they're dealing with relating to the instrument, music in general, and psychology of performance. I'm a student of the directions I was nudged towards by several key teachers. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet

Depending on how experienced the student is, I make sure to gauge where they are at regarding music theory and music history. Although the main goal of learning an instrument is to learn how to express yourself through music, it is important to understand how we can do that by having a solid understanding of theory and history. I've found that teaching students on a week-by-week basis through exercises that I create for them has been very successful, especially since a lot of method books are very limiting, and they expect every student to be starting out with the same baseline. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Euphonium Tuba

Throughout my college career, I have learned to teach students rather than babysit students in order to have them achieve their very best. Teaching is the organizing or guiding of a process in which students learn. Teaching is there so students can learn. Babysitting is simply watching the students without them necessarily learning anything. I strongly believemusic teachers should possess a love of music and an enjoyment of working with people. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone

For beginning students, I typically use Essential Elements or Standard of Excellence (whichever they are not using in school if any). I use these series until a student has progressed enough at the fundamentals of playing that specific functions can be addressed. At that point, I will begin to split instruction into flow studies, flexibility, tone, air movement, and articulation, drawing from a variety of books created by some of the world's leading brass musicians. Read More