Holly knows how to motivate her students and lays out clear goals and practice routines that her students can easily follow. I can count with one hand the number of days my son took home his trumpet for practice during the past two years. This changed dramatically when he started taking lessons from Holly. He has been practicing trumpet every day since, even during our drive to the Tanglewood concert! Three lessons in, I feel that he has already accomplished more in 15 days than what he has achieved in the past two years in his middle school band. The only regret that I have is that we did not start this sooner!

My 14 year old son Brett has been taking online trumpet lessons with Holly for nearly two years. Holly is always both positive and instructive. Brett has grown as a trumpet player and a leader with Holly's guidance. Holly is timely and reliable, She has been flexible with changes due to Brett's ever evolving sports schedule,

The online experience with Holly is natural and effective. We have had few technology problems and at home, car pool free arrangement is convenient.

I would recommend Holly to any prospective student!

Holly was the perfect instructor for my first months learning trumpet. Her brass playing experience was a great foundation fo a lot of insight about how to practice, progress, and get past some snags. It was a bonus that she is upbeat and very encouraging with a great sense of humor.

My teen daughter has had one lesson with Holly so far and we are both very impressed. Her initial lesson included a thorough evaluation so she knew just where my daughter was starting from, and progressed to an actual lesson. It was clear to me that my daughter learns easily from Holly's teaching style and I could hear her progress throughout the hour. Additionally, Holly has an upbeat, positive attitude that only added to my daughter's enjoyment. She's counting down the days until her next lesson.

I began playing trumpet again after a 45 years break (I played in HS). I was concerned because I tend to be very self-conscious and nervous. Holly is amazing, not only because of her technical expertise, but because she has taken all the stress and worry out of learning to play. She has made music what it should have always been ... FUN! I love our lessons together and enjoy practicing. She is a wonderful instructor and I would highly recommend her to anyone wanting to learn to play an instrument.

I'll be glad to answer any questions anyone may have.

Holly makes the lessons really fun and she is incredibly patient. My eleven year old daughter is very self conscience but Holly has lots of ways to help her feel comfortable and is very encouraging. She also has a great sense of humor. For the first time ever my daughter wanted to get her horn out and practice without me having to ask. I would definitely recommend Holly!

My daughter's lesson with Holly was amazing. My daughter started playing trumpet at the age of 6. I bought her a used trumpet and she basically taught herself how to read music and how to play. By the time she was in middle school, after several years of elementary school band class, where everyone learns an instrument, my daughter had grown bored of her trumpet. She was great at it, but there was no challenge and very little inspiration for her to play. When she met Holly for her lesson that all changed. She was able to talk with Holly and share with her many of her trumpet and band experiences. Holly was enthusiastic and positive as an instructor. She really was able to connect with my daughter(a teenager) and encourage her. My daughter left her lesson feeling very interested in trumpet again and wanting to explore a variety of music she could play on her trumpet. For the next few days she was listening to various trumpet players online and different music styles, at Holly's recommendation.
I can confidently recommend Holly as an instructor for any student who wishes to play trumpet. I believe she is the perfect instructor for my middle school daughter.

Holly Schaff is a wonderful trombonist and teacher. She inspires students with her quick wit and quirky sense of humour all the while teaching the fundamentals of trombone in memorable ways. Holly has been a professional musician on the east coast for years and not only communicates clearly, but demonstrates important techniques and tricks when she teaches. She has studied and played with some of the finest Low Brass teachers and specialists in the world and imparts this learned knowledge of musicianship to her students in lessons. I highly recommend Holly as a trombone teacher for beginning, intermediate, or advanced students.

Beth Mitchell
Kanstul International Recital Artist and Clinician

I really enjoyed working with Holly -- she is passionate about the trombone, knowledgable and thoughtful, but also has a great sense of humor, so our lessons were a lot of fun. I think I improved a lot over the course of the months that I studied with her, and also gained the confidence to go from being a beginner to playing in an ensemble.