Philosophy
My teaching philosophy stems from the warm, encouraging, and inspiring teaching methods of my former horn teachers Julie Landsman of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and Jennifer Montone and Jeffrey Lang of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
As an educator, my priority is to give my students the tools to be their own best teachers. By encouraging creative problem-solving and critical thinking through a variety of methodical approaches, my students will have the tools for success in an ever-changing musical environment. Every student is an individual and I consciously make adjustments in my teaching to fit each student’s needs.
Technique
The technical tools I provide are inspired primarily by Carmine Caruso's musical calisthenics for brass. I use this method to provide a natural approach to playing a brass instrument through repetition and constructive habit building. This allows students to freely think of music unhindered by technique.
February, 2019: Performing for 4th graders in Philadelphia through Astral Artist’s residency program with Rachel Lee Hall, Harp
Musical Development
The musical tools I provide are based on the phrasing methods of Marcel Tabuteau and the analysis methods of Heinrich Schenker. I ensure these methods are made accessible to my students through hands-on experiences in their lessons. Using Tabuteau's phrasing method students are given tools to expertly sculpt melodic phrases and find their musical voice. Through the practical use of Schenkerian Analysis, I encourage students to employ musical grammar and to have a deeper understanding of the harmonic language of whatever repertoire they may be working on.
Success
My students regularly are accepted to All-County, All-State, and All-Eastern Festivals and have been accepted to such institutions as Juilliard pre-college.
I teach all brass, and provide lessons both virtually and in person on Long Island. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or if you are interested in a lesson.