I have been teaching privately and performing many years in this area. I have a Bachelors of Music in performance, clarinet major, with minors on flute and piano. My goal is to bring each student up to their highest level, breaking typical norms set by age or grade. Also, as ensemble playing is so important from the earliest stages, I play along with lesson material and play duets with students as often as possible. Aside from the benefit of learning something from every student, watching the moment a student understands, or "finally gets" a new note, rhythm, or nuance, is a very satisfying feeling. Preparing students for Regional Band and Or...

I offer a fresh perspective on the role of the music teacher. I'm certainly here to help my students learn the fundamentals, but I believe in a why-first approach to lessons. If I can't clearly articulate the reason why we're doing something and the impact it will have on a student's progress or understanding, then we don't do it. Nothing is arbitrary, and every moment is useful. I try to make sense of things by observing the patterns and relationships at play in the world around me, and I often employ this approach in my curriculum. Whether we're discussing scales, chords, saxophone technique, vocal technique or songwriting—everything can be...