Elk Grove, CA Trumpet Lessons

n, Steve's musical interests include music theory, arranging, composition, piano ensemble playing and ethnomusicology.

*** Lesson Details ***
I have been teaching children and adults for the past 15 years. I have worked
in public schools as a band instructor, choir director, orchestra director and
general music teacher. I have also taught English and Spanish classes. My private
piano and horn students have enjoyed playing from a wide variety of musical
styles from classical to modern.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Piano

*** Specialties ***
I choose from a variety of publications, depending on the nature of the student. I strive to have my students become well rounded by learning a variety of music literature and learning theory, scales, chord progressions, and integrate sight-reading as a regular component of lessons.

studied with multiple music professors and have learned their most effective teaching methods. I have taken music theory classes that allow me to explain theory in a simplified manner to students. I have been playing guitar since high school and have taken many piano classes while in school, where proficiency is necessary in order to advance in the major. In my free time, I even play drums and multiple other instruments and listen to music constantly. Music is very much my life. This allows me the versatility to teach a variety of instruments and mold myself and my students into well-rounded musicians.

and New Jersey and has taught at the secondary level in both states. In addition to both instrumental and choral ensembles at Penn State, Thomas was a student leader in the Penn State Blue Band and a member of the brass section of the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps in 1993 and 1994. He served as an Associate Director of the Warren Junior Military Band of Youngstown, Ohio from 1995 to 2005. He also served as a visual staff member for the renowned North Penn Marching Knights of Lansdale, PA for one season in 2004.

He is a current adjudicator with Drum Corps International and Cavalcade of Bands. He is a member of MENC, PMEA, NJMEA, ASCAP, CASA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the National Band Association. He appeared in the Marquis Who's Who Among American Educators in 2004 and 2005, an honor rarely bestowed upon teachers, as students who appear in the Who's Who Among American High School Students must nominate them. He currently is a music teacher at the Center for Performing and Fine Arts of the PA Leadership Charter School in West Chester, PA and resides in Downingtown, PA with his wife and two sons.

Thomas will happily work with students on the autism spectrum or students with ADD.

*** Lesson Details ***
My lessons are tailored to the needs and interests of each student. If a student is involved in school music ensembles, we will work with their lesson books from school in addition to material outside of the books, including SmartMusic, Noteflight, and teacher-created materials. We will focus on building proper tone production and individual technique - something that often is difficult to learn in a large ensemble setting.

I am capable of starting a beginner student on any band instrument including percussion, any classical string instrument (violin, viola, cello, string bass), and piano. I can begin a student on drum set and work with them through their first method book, but I would then recommend they find a specialized drum set teacher after a period of six to twelve months.

For advanced students, I work from selected conservatory etude books on developing advanced skills and can work with students on audition pieces for honors bands/orchestras or college auditions.

My lessons are a half-hour once a week, with the option of working for 45 minutes or 60 minutes.

*** Specialties ***
music, band, orchestra, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, violin, viola, cello, string bass, piano, Percussion
classical, jazz improvisation

as a composer-in-residence with the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Brass Ensemble, and again in 2012 with the Candlewood Middle School 6th Grade Band in Dix Hills, NY. In the summer of 2012, the LIU Post Wind Symphony commissioned a work from me, entitled “Big Sky Country,” which received its world premiere at the John Philip Sousa Memorial Band Shell in Port Washington, New York. The work was then taken on tour and performed overseas in Beijing and Xi’an, China.

I am a winner of two awards from the Global Music Awards (2012) for my works “Big Sky Country,” in the ‘composition’ category and for “Inner City Sounds” in the ‘student band’ category. I continue to write music for educational purposes, and currently list my music on major distributor websites like JWPepper.

*** Specialties ***
Trumpet - Beginner to Advanced
French Horn - Beginner to Intermediate
Piano - Beginner
Clarinet - Advanced Beginner
Trombone - Advanced Beginner
Conducting - Beginner
Alto Saxophone - Beginner
Music Composition - Beginner to Advanced
Arranging - Beginner to Advanced
Orchestration - Beginner to Advanced
Music Theory - Beginner to Advanced
Ear Training - Beginner to Advanced

I also offer lessons on how to use Finale Music Notation Software - Beginner to Advanced.

as well.

nce teaching trumpet, guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and saxophone. We will play whichever style of music you prefer. Lessons will be fun!

ey don’t recognize it right away, they are so fortunate to have your support. As the founder and owner of NOVA Music Academy, I believe that children always win when parents and teachers unite to provide support. We hope that by inviting you into the NOVA Music Academy family, your unique child will find joy in learning music and grow to appreciate the deeply expressive power of art for a lifetime.

I can personally attest to the joy that music has brought my life, including full scholarships for a bachelors, master's and doctoral degree and I could never have done it without my amazing flute teachers. I'm looking forward to repaying their investment into the next generation of musicians, I sincerely hope your child is one of them! My website contains a full bio, resume, and recordings of my playing and testimonials from parents and students.