R. Chuck Jacks - Band Instrument Lessons

As a Private lesson teacher, I like to bring my real-world experience as a professional musician & teacher, and my understanding of what kids need and want to know about music, as well as performing better on their instrument. I teach kids how to prepare for auditions (marching band, symphonic band, and other PMEA Festivals), but I also give them good solid advice on how to achieve their goals in life. Some of the parents tell me that one of the reasons they have stayed with me over the years is that they see the before and after effects on their child with each lesson, and they really appreciate the advice I can give to them.

This is what inspires me each day, that one-to-one individual contact that can really influence a student and help to make them a better person, along with everything else that we talk about.

For 5 years, I was an employee of Royal Caribbean, working as a Professional Trombonist. This was a job that required daily sight-reading for Guest Entertainers (a variety of music styles), 2 different weekly production shows (Musical Reviews), and a Jazz Night. We traveled to 6 continents (including Antarctica) while I was on ships - the experience of a lifetime! I highly suggest it to young adults getting their start. It's a great resume builder and you'll learn so much from the other musicians hired from around the world (conversations about music every single day at every meal and free time, too).

I really loved that job, but being gone at sea for 7 months, with only 6 weeks at home, got to me after a while. Impossible to have any kind of a family life - but I did meet my wife there (we both teach private lessons for a living).

I became a public school teacher for 4 years, working as the Grade 4-12 Band Teacher in a few economically-stressed neighborhoods. While fulfilling in many ways, especially teaching the kids, the stress of dealing with the school board politics got too much for me. In one school, they eventually eliminated the arts altogether. In another school, the entire high school went bankrupt and is now an empty building. I have always loved teaching private lessons, instead. So, this was not really for me.

During grad school, and for a few years after, I played Lead Soprano (G Bugle - equivalent to 1st Trumpet) for the Blue Eagles Alumni Drum Corps based in Wind Gap, PA (Eastern PA).

In grad school, I received a full scholarship plus a full stipend for living expenses to work with the Penn State University Marching "Blue Band" as their grad. assistant (aka, acting Assistant Band Director since we didn't have one at that time). Among my many other job duties, I was the Judge for all of the Low Brass Auditions. During Sectionals, I was in charge of all 26 Sousaphones and 13 Baritones, teaching them warm-ups and their individual parts. We did a brand new show for every home game, so there was a lot of music.

During grad school, I also studied the 5-Valve CC Tuba, in addition to studying Bass Trombone with Mark Lusk (Bass Trombone, Woody Herman Big Band & International Competition Winner Classical Soloist).

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, studying private lessons with Murray Crewe (Bass Trombone, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra). At Duquesne, I also studied with many other great teachers, including Jay Ashby (Jazz Bass Trombone, toured with Astrud Gilberto, the voice of "The Girl from Ipanema" for 10 years). I was in every ensemble they had, from Jazz Band to New Music Ensemble (Avante-Garde) - a great learning experience.

In high school, I won so many competitions that I became the #1 Bass Trombone at PMEA ALL-STATE BAND in my senior year. My private teacher then was Joe Williams (Principal Trombone, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera). In both HS and College, I was a member of the PYSO-Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra and the RCYBB-River City Youth Brass Band, coached by members of the professional groups.

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During College and also after, I started teaching private lessons because of my Mom. For many years, she was teaching Woodwind lessons from home after school. She was also the Church Choir Director, so I was performing Trombone solos in church quite often throughout the year, starting in 7th Grade.

But, teaching private lessons was always a joy to me from my very first student. There's something special about sharing what you've learned from your past teachers, now with your current students. Almost like a Jedi Master teaching their Young Padawan Learner. It's a pretty cool experience. It's a job that I always look forward to each and every day. Because of my variety of music experiences, I can teach you whatever skills that you need to attain your goals.

We're gonna have a fun time too, because I believe that the best way to inspire a student is to get to know them and tell some jokes once in a while, just like the way professional musicians are towards each other. But, we also work really hard, too.

Thanks for considering me, and I can't wait to get started with lessons with you!! Have a great day, and I'll see you soon. :O)

--R. Chuck Jacks