As an educator, my philosophy is to teach my students how to become the best versions of themselves by creating a safe, healthy learning environment. My mission is to cultivate musicians to be the best they can be by receiving a well-rounded music education, developing mastery, and becoming life-long music appreciators. My goal as an educator is to inspire and encourage students to test their limits and strive for musical, personal, and professional growth. Benefits of being in my cello studio: Flexible schedule: Unlike other cello teachers, I have a lot of availability throughout the day and week. As long as you reschedule within 24 hours, and I can guarantee you have a lesson during that week! Access to resources for free: Students in my studio will receive special access to my cello studio google drive folder on my website. You will find helpful resources such as music, video tutorials, recordings, and so much more that are only available for students in my studio. Anyone can learn: My studio is open to all ages and levels. I teach the person sitting in front of me, not the cello. Nurturing the whole individual: Not every student will become a professional musician, however I want students to understand they have the potential to become one with dedication and the right mindset. All students will develop self-confidence, discipline, and a lifelong appreciation for music and the arts. Personalized instruction: All of my lesson plans are tailored to the student I am teaching whether it is a specific technique, working towards a goal, or finding which method of learning is best for them. Receive instant feedback: I believe giving feedback is one of the most powerful things a teacher does. Positive feedback is just as important as negative feedback, and my goal is to keep the feedback concise and meaningful to make it as clear as possible for the student to understand. Achieve specific goals: Not only do I teach you music, but also how to be organized and create a plan to reach specific goals. Whether it is all region/state to UIL to college auditions, both short and long term goals are communicated, and I will work with my students to achieve those goals with a well thought out plan. Effective practice: Are practicing by just playing the piece over and over again? That is not effective, meaningful practice, and I want students to understand they can use their time more wisely with “quality, not quantity” practice. My goal as an educator is to clearly communicate how students should practice at home during our private lessons. Music Theory: All music instruction includes the introduction of music theory, which is a key component of the fundamentals of music. Learning about dynamics, tempo markings, musical form, etc. all contribute to a deeper understanding of music they are playing.

About Ashley W.