Trombone Fundamentals And Techniques

When I take on a new student, I like to get to know them a little better. I ask what their interests are and why they decided to play trombone to make them comfortable with me. The first lesson is used to assess where the student is in their trombone journey. Once I get a better understanding of how the student learns and receives information, I work to make sure they are understanding each concept I present in a way that is personalized for them. 

As a Trombone player, I was accepted with a large scholarship to attend the Manhattan School of Music for my Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Trombone and I have since graduated with my BM and am now a candidate for the Master Degree. While living in NYC, I’ve acquired a great amount of experience as a performer and educator. Aside from leading and performing with my own ensemble “Mestizos'', I’ve been performing professionally with various ensembles/artists since 2015, including the Grammy nominated Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band, where I had the opportunities to perform and travel alongside musicians such as NEA Jazz Masters Paquito D’Rivera and Candido Camero, Jon Faddis, and Randy Brecker. I’ve recorded studio albums/EP’s with several performing artists including Maria Bacardi (of the Bacardi Rum family), Benny Benack III, Steven Feifke, and the Grammy nominated record “West Side Story Reimagined '' with Bobby Sanabria. I’ve toured internationally multiple times with Luis Bonilla and the JM Jazz World Orchestra, where I had the opportunities to play festivals like the Montruex Jazz Festival in Switzerland, A to Jazz Festival in Bulgaria, Jazz is Back Festival in Croatia, as well as play alongside Gonzalo Rubalcaba, John Riley, Jay Anderson, and Hector Martingnon.

 I began teaching privately in 2015 and since then I have had mostly beginner-intermediate students, which I believe are the most fun to teach. I focus on basic trombone fundamentals and how to develop a daily routine that covers all facets of brass playing, as well as basic jazz concepts, all depending on the students skill level.  From 2016-2018, I was on Faculty as the Trombone Instructor at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School. I taught a weekly group class of  5-7 middle and high schoolers with varying skill levels. During my time at Manhattan school of music, I’ve also been able to personally create and teach sample courses of my own. These include a 15 week college class, “Latin Jazz History” and a 136-credit Jazz Program Curriculum.

My usual rates are $40 for 30 minutes or $60 for the hour. 

I am very flexible at this time because of the pandemic. Inquire for more details on rates. 

My own music education began in 6th grade through the public school system in Broward County, Florida. While the middle school I attended didn’t have a music program, my desire to learn trombone and play in band led to my invitation to sit in and eventually join the high school band program. Although the school was in a low-income neighborhood and was poorly funded, I was very lucky to have a dedicated band director that guided me and taught me the skills I needed to excel in music. Being in this program allowed me to understand the value of mentorship in music education as I did not have a private trombone instructor during this time. This inspired me to become a teacher. 

Mostly Begginer and Intermediate students.