Piano with Andrew W.

Hello, I have been performing music since I was in the 4th grade when I started playing clarinet. In the 8th grade I started playing the oboe, and decided in my senior year to go to Ithaca College to become a music teacher, studying with Paige Morgan. While at Ithaca College, I had a private studio of 4 oboe players who were in middle school and high school. My oldest student was selected to be an oboe player at the NYSSMA All-State conference. I also toured around New York state playing in operas, as a solist, and in many broadway shows. Upon graduation I was hired by Teach for America and Denver Public Schools to be a music teacher k-8th grade. I taught music theory, band, orchestra and piano. I now play the flute, oboe, saxophone or clarinet for hire, and love to share my love for music with my students. *** Lesson Details *** For beginning students, I believe it is important to have the student able to play a song by the end of the first lesson. From there we will work hard to understand all of the signs and symbols that are present on the page. I am a fairly laid back person, but I have high expectations in and out of lessons, and will hold students to those expectations. Performance is one of the things that I value most, so at least once a lesson the student will be expected to perform from beginning to end a song as if it were a performance. For intermediate students, we will begin by reviewing basic techniques, as well as diving into the complex art of music performance. We will be exploring emotions as we also improve technique, breathing, and phrasing. I will continue to hold these students to high expectations. For advanced students, I will be pushing them to always put themselves into their music, simply being able to play the notes on the page will not be enough at this level. Thought and care must be put into their practice and in our lessons so that the mood they are trying to convey with the music is able to get across to the audience. For music theory students, lessons will be more tailored to what they already know and what they want to know for their musical future.The beginning will involve a brief test to see what they already know, and from there we will explore many different musical styles and genres and the complex make-up of music. *** Travel Equipment *** I can provide music stands and some supplemental music. I expect my students to have their instrument, books, reeds and a pencil. *** Specialties *** Beginning Oboe Flute/Oboe Solo Performance (especially contest preperation) Orchestral Repertoire Beginning Music Theory Advanced Music Theory Elementary School/Middle School/High School/GED Math Middle School/High School Science Music Tutoring All Levels