Violin with Trevor M.

First things first: thank you for taking the time to look at my profile! I realize that you have many choices when it comes to a music teacher in the Tampa Bay area, so I appreciate you taking the time to read a little about me. I began teaching in 2008. I earned an Associate of Arts in Music from Hillsborough Community College in 2011, and I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of South Florida in 2013. At USF, I also studied music education and orchestral conducting extensively. I am currently a substitute teacher in Hillsborough County, specializing in elementary music, and I am in the process of completing my requirements to teach full time. I am also a composer, and many of my works are posted on IMSLP.org and my personal website. My lessons are structured mostly around what the student wants. For example, we may go over some orchestra music the student is learning at school, or we might go over some music theory homework, or perhaps a combination of the two (I frequently incorporate music theory into violin and viola lessons anyway). Or, maybe the student wants to learn a popular piece ("Let It Go" and other Disney songs are favorites of many students). I may also assign different etudes (pieces designed to focus on a specific technique), scales, and repertoire for the student to study and improve on. The repertoire I chose will be challenging to the student and will server as a tool to help the student improve on one or more aspects of their playing. For younger students, we start off very slow in order to avoid injury and to make sure we get the basics down 100% before moving on into reading and playing music. It is important to remember that every student is different, and every lesson I teach is tailored to each student; for this reason, I never teach the same lesson twice! As a teacher, I am stern, but I also have a good sense of humor. I love to have fun. I feel that I connect very well with my students, because I am personable and understanding, but also direct and strict. My philosophy about teaching music is that music is a gift that is meant to be enjoyed. Practicing music should not be like homework! Every time the student picks up his or her instrument, he or she should feel excited about making music. I have taught all kinds of students, ranging from five year olds who are playing music for the first time, to high school seniors preparing for a college audition, to adults in their late fifties who want to pick up a violin or viola as a hobby. My goal is to make the student the best musician he or she can be, while making sure he or she maintains an appreciation for music in general. Music to me is, in a way, therapeutic at times. It simply feels good to play music! I invite you to take the steps to experiencing the same joy I get from playing music every day. When you do decide to begin, I would be honored to guide you along the way. *** Lesson Details *** Required Materials: (Try to have these by the first lesson) Instrument and bow, case Shoulder rest (Kun is a good student-level brand) Rosin (light in color - works better in hotter climates) Cleaning cloth (to wipe away excess rosin) Music (to be determined) Optional Materials: Instrument polish String cleaner (liquid) Extra strings *** Travel Equipment *** My violin, my viola, and a whole stack of music. *** Specialties *** + Contemporary and 20th Century music + Beginning-intermediate music theory + Primary age instruction (ages 7-10) + Middle & High school orchestra music + College audition preparation + All-County, All-State, Master Musician, and Solo & Ensemble preparation + Orchestra audition preparation + Audition techniques and approaches + Performance practice and dealing with anxiety + Beginning music composition techniques