Isaac L.

My Values
As I’ve developed my teaching style over the last ten years, I’ve found myself zeroing in on a few key qualities I want to cultivate in my students and in my self including great ears, a high proficiency on the instrument, and a strong and interactive sense of musicality. At the center of my practice is a devotion to personal growth and discovery. For myself, I find this by teaching in a variety of contexts from teaching in classrooms at a private school to sharing volunteer masterclasses around the world. No matter the context it is my goal to share with my students and those who will listen the lessons I have learned through music and to help them uncover their own. As such I am constantly striving to inspire personal connections to the music and a stronger sense of community

My experience
I have consistently taught private lessons to bass players, pianists, and other instrumentalists since 2010. I have also had the opportunity to teach over a dozen jazz clinics, including two separate visits to the annual Panama Jazz Festival to teach and perform. At Berklee I studied music pedagogy and continue to research pedagogy on my own time. Recently through a teacher training program I have participated in workshops learning the basics of Suzuki, Kodály, and Orff Shulwerk methods. I currently teach music classes part time at a Manhattan private school and part time in an El Sistema based after school strings program.

My students have gone on to win statewide competitions such as positions in the All State jazz band and orchestra. Some have participated in music festivals around the country such as the Newport Jazz Festival and others have continued on to study at the collegiate level at schools including McGill University and Northwestern University.