Teaching
Photo Credit: Rueben Guillen Jr.
"...the faculty thought I had made some serious (and quick!) improvement, and I honestly think our lesson had a lot to do with it - I've heard more than once that the shake in my sound is mostly gone." - Daniel Wood
"I've been starting to chip away at some of these issues and have found some success regarding register shifts and fatigue. I really enjoyed studying with you this year, and I wish we had more time to keep going!" - Sam Hutt
"I've heard nothing but positive feedback from the students [at Rutgers] about your masterclass. The students are really excited to start working with you." - Kenneth DeCarlo, Head of Brass at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts
"I've been starting to chip away at some of these issues and have found some success regarding register shifts and fatigue. I really enjoyed studying with you this year, and I wish we had more time to keep going!" - Sam Hutt
"I've heard nothing but positive feedback from the students [at Rutgers] about your masterclass. The students are really excited to start working with you." - Kenneth DeCarlo, Head of Brass at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts
Where I Teach
Currently, I teach at Rutgers University, Bard College, and the Mannes School of Music. Each institution offers its students different advantages and curriculum, so if you are a prospective incoming freshman, I highly recommend that you check out each program in detail. Feel free to contact me for a lesson as well.
I also teach private lessons outside of those institutions to any interested.
I also teach private lessons outside of those institutions to any interested.
Philosophy of Teaching
As a teacher, I think one of the most important things to keep in mind for any student is that, as they continue to learn from various instructors, they will hear very different things, sometimes completely contradictory things. Therefore, it is important to use your brain when receiving instruction from any teacher, no matter how renowned, and to learn to interpret every instruction in a way that is conducive to growth. In other words, you should never entirely dismiss an instruction as useless, nor should you accept it as gospel without testing it for yourself. As a teacher, this makes me very anti-dogmatic. I am not anti-buzzing or pro-buzzing, anti-wrist or pro-wrist in slide motion, anti-slide vibrato vs jaw vibrato, etc. I think that because everyone has different physiology, what may work very well for one person may not work for another, and what may be appropriate technique on one piece of music may create problems for a different piece. Therefore, I strive to seek the fundamental problems in each student's playing and to address it intellectually, trying to solve everything like a unique puzzle that has a unique solution. I also strive to ensure that my students need me a little bit less each day, teaching them to teach and think for themselves. This approach is informed greatly by what worked for me as a student. I was taught to work smarter, not harder, and thus to not wait for a teacher to solve a problem if I could figure it out for myself. Of course, any growth as a musician does require hard work, but that work is less effective if it is not accompanied by mental dedication. It is my job as a teacher to maximize that potential in each student, and I strive hard each lesson to do so.
• Lessons
- 30 - 90 minute lessons. I prefer 90 minute lessons for advanced players so we can dig into more detail.
- Beginners to advanced trombonists, euphonium/baritone players. I accept tuba students but it is not my specialty.
- My expertise is primarily in classical playing, though jazz students are welcome. I have 4 years of moderate jazz training.
- Lesson format and playing materials tailored to each individual student's needs.
- Lesson locations to be set based on mutual convenience. Primary location is the MET Opera Hall in NYC.
- POST COVID19: In-person lessons may not be possible due to the current pandemic. Therefore, I will probably be conducting video lessons through Zoom or similar platforms for the foreseeable future.
- Rates to be set after consultation depending on length of lesson, travel time, and amount of lessons.
- Please contact me for more information or to inquire about setting up a lesson.
• Master Classes, Recitals
- Universities, Colleges, High Schools, and other institutions may contact me via email or via my contact form to request and arrange master classes and/or recitals.
- At least 3 months notice required for a full recital. More is preferred, especially if playing a new work.
