Trombone Lessons for Portland, OR

Trombone is, and should be, FUN. It's my main instrument, and I have 20 years of experience: both my Bachelor's and my Postgraduate Diploma are in Trombone Performance. If you want someone who knows the instrument inside and out, who can help you with intricate technical issues, and who is well acquainted with trombone repertoire and how our instrument is used in different styles and ensembles, I've got the knowledge and the skills -- and I'll do it all in a way that helps you LOVE playing.

I work with students of all ages and abilities, from young beginners to adults and advanced students. I plan my lessons and create my own materials specially to fit each student's specific needs and goals. While learning an instrument is a worthy endeavor on its own, I also work with my students to hone important life and study skills that they can also apply to other aspects of their lives and education - not to mention having fun making music! Confidence, problem solving, and setting and working towards goals are just some of the skills I work to impart on my students. Feel free to send me a message if you're interested in setting up a lesson or if you have any questions :)

If you are looking to take your tombone playing to the next level, you came to the right place. I have a degree from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and have studied with some of the best trombonists in the world. I have a lot of playing and teaching experience, having performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and many other venues around the city. I can teach you any style you are interested in and will make sure you have fun doing it.

One on One lessons on Trumpet, Cornet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium or Tuba. We will focus on creating excellent sounds, having great technique and being great musicians. We can focus on Jazz, Classical or BOTH!

I have studied with some of the finest trombonists in the world, performed in the nation's top orchestras, and am firmly committed to excellence in the trombone field. Music is one of the most indescribably powerful and moving things in the entire world, and I want students to, above all, simply enjoy playing and experiencing this gift. The trombone is, of course, merely a means to an end in this regard; yet its rich, powerful, as well as versatile sound is what particularly draws me to it. My approach to playing the trombone is simple: producing the greatest sound on every note, as easily as possible. I think it is necessary to have the best sound that you can possibly make on the trombone in your head from day one, and to this end, I strive to play as much as possible for and along with the student so that they may develop their own ideal sound concept. I couple this with instruction on all the other fundamentals of trombone playing and music making, such as technique, scales, rhythms, intonation, breathing, etc. But never forget that the ultimate goal is to perform the music the way it goes and to simply sing through the instrument. By this I do not not necessarily mean playing all the correct notes, but instead performing the music in the correct style and context as the composer intended, and always playing musical lines. Remember that music is to be shared with others, and that making a statement with the music we play, in a way expressing our deepest emotions, is what this is all about!

I am a professional orchestral trombonist and I have been an active brass teacher for almost twenty years. I have played in orchestras across the USA and Europe, including the Cincinnati Symphony, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and many more. I aim to give my students a solid understanding of the technical skills required to play a brass instrument, and to share with them the musical knowledge I have gained from studying with some of the best brass teachers in the world.

Students begin with the Rubank method. A strong emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of scales, ear training, sight reading, and music theory. Along with this we have fun playing the music student enjoys.

Positive learning and a fun environment