Hello and Welcome!

I am excited to start offering my teaching services on trombone, euphonium and the rest of the instruments from the brass family here at takelessons.com.

Here is a brief introduction about myself.

I am currently a member of Orchestra Iowa based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and have played with groups such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Civic Orchestra, Quad City Symphony, Dubuque Symphony, South Bend Symphony, and many others. I studied with Jay Friedman and other members of the Chicago Symphony at Roosevelt University between 2007 and 2012

I am a Greenhoe trombone performing artist and recently graduated from the University of Iowa with a DMA in 2020 where I was the teaching assistant in the trombone studio.

In addition to my orchestra playing, I was also a member of Axiom Brass Quintet from 2012-2014. During my tenure we were the first prize winners at the International brass competition held in Passau Germany and the ensemble in residence at Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Music Institute of Chicago, and were the first Brass ensemble to be invited to the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival in Detroit, MI.

As a soloist, I was also the grand prize winner of the Chicago International Brass solo competition in 2012 on euphonium.
Currently, I am also an active member with the New Chicago Brass, a modern brass ensemble based out of Chicago. I am comfortable teaching all brass instruments for all ages and skill levels. I look forward to answering any questions you may have in regard to taking lessons on a brass instrument.

Teaching Philosophy:

My goal is to make music accessible to everyone and not just professional musicians.

Music is about more than the combination of playing the right notes at the right time. It is about turning the song and melody we imagine in our mind into musical sound to communicate with the world. The goal is to express ourselves the way we hear in our imagination.

With this in mind, I focus on the following when working with the needs of individual students:

development of technique through scales, arpeggios, and lip slurs, as well as technical exercises from Schlossberg, Arban, and others.

development of musical phrasing and style through the etudes of Cimera, Bordogni, Blazhevich, Edwards, and others.

music history and music theory

the history of the trombone and how the trombone works

collaboration with piano accompaniment and small chamber groups for development of aural and physical awareness

Once learned, these tools can then be applied to music from any era or genre. The end result is easier and more enjoyable trombone playing, and a better sense and appreciation for music.