Mi Casita Music - Lessons & Consulting

1. Discuss the student's goals by taking lessons.

2. Access their skill level by playing material they are familiar with and reading together.

3. Access their equipment: type of instrument, mouthpiece, reeds, ligature. Are repairs needed. Test their instrument by playing it.

4. Ask them what they listen to when they are relaxing. It is always fun to learn something you like. Transcribe a melody from their favorite song, video game, TV show, etc.

5. Play together duets or even play the same thing, depending on the student's comfort level.

6. Listen to great examples of their instrument. Although I hope to be a model for the student, it is beneficial to find other professionals the play their instrument.

1987-1992, I had a private music lesson studio in Martinsville and Bloomington Indiana with 35-40 middle and high school students. I taught all woodwinds: flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone.

I played with MOTOWN RECORDING ARTISTS, the VOYAGE BAND for three years. We traveled the mid-West, recorded, and fully supported ourselves as full-time musicians.

1992 = Bachelor of Music (BM) from Indiana University-Bloomington in Jazz Studies wtih Saxophone as major.

1992 = Performer's Certificate from Indiana University-Bloomington. This is the highest honor a performer can achieve at IU.

1992-3 = Woodwind Performer on American Hawaiian Cruises. Full-time musician.

1994-7 = Master of Music (MM) from the University of Denver in Jazz Performance on Woodwinds.

1997-1999 = Doctorate of Arts course work at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO.

1999-2000 = Began as a Professor of Saxophone at James Madison University.

2001-2002 = Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University

2002-current = Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Indiana/Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), now called Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW).

2005 = Completed the Doctor of Arts (DA) from the University of Northern Colorado-Greeley. Major was in Saxophone Performance and Pedagogy with a Secondary in Jazz Studies.

I charge:

BEGINNERS ONLY = 20-30 minute lesson $20.00

2nd-3rd year players = 30 minute lesson $40.00

4th year - Adult = 60 minute lesson $60.00

I discovered early on that people would come to me for advice on how to fix problems in their playing. I taught many years for free until I had a teacher point out that I was a "natural teacher." This teacher encouraged me to open my own teaching studio, which I did in Martinsville and Bloomington, Indiana while I was a student at IU-Bloomington.

After three years being a professional traveling musician with MOTOWN Recording Artists - The Voyage Band, it became clear that the road was not the life I wanted. I went on to play on American Hawaiian Cruises as a woodwind performer. It was beautiful, but my wife never got hired to work onboard. This meant I was paying rent in Maui for her, and not really saving any money. Hawaii was too expensive.

My mentor suggested that I should consider becoming a professor/teacher, since I was already teaching and doing most of the things expected from a professor. I got a Full Scholarship to get my MM at the University of Denver. I got paid to play in most of the school ensembles, but also be a professional musician in Denver, Colorado.

Playing professionally in Denver, I was working with the Assistant Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Colorado. They offered me a FULL-Scholarship to get my Doctor of Arts (DA) degree and be "teacher of record" getting experience as a teacher in higher education. I love working with the college-aged students and trying to help them find their way into adulthood.

Beginners, students switching from one instrument to another, middle school, high school, college, adn adult students. I excel in working with students that have never had many private lessons. Due to the variety of places I have lived, teaching a diverse student body has been a wonderful element to my teaching.

Sometimes teachers do private lessons because they cannot make a living only playing full-time. Although playing is why we all learned an instrument, not everyone has the patience or skills to teach.

Ask what age-groups the teacher has taught?

What are their students doing now?

Are any students teachers now?

How many students are professional musicians?

Does your teacher listen to your goals, or do they push their goals onto you?

You should enjoy your lessons, not dread them.

Is your teacher interested in what is going on in your life? There are very few times a student gets the full attention of an adult for 30-60 minutes. This is a wonderful time to share what is going on in the student's life, achievements, future goals.

1. Why do you want to take lessons? Do you want to be 1st chair, learn to play a specific song, etc?

2. What has the teacher done in the world of music?

3. Have companies asked them to use their products? Mouthpieces, instruments, etc.

4. Are you willing to put in some practice time each week?

5. How many other extra-curricular events do you have to devote time to weekly?

6. Are your parents supportive of a student's education in music?

7. Don't feel like you are wasting a teacher's time. Most teachers enjoy talking to and helping students.

8. How will you take lessons: go to the teacher's house, the teacher comes to your house, or you have a vurtual lesson via ZOOM or another virtual program.