Cello with Zachary F.

I am a professional cellist, and certified K-12 Music Educator, who graduated from Duquesne University with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, and a Masters Degree in Cello Performance. My philosophy in teaching is holistic. I spend the first lesson analyzing musical knowledge, skills, and aptitudes such as sight reading, music theory knowledge, rhythm, pitch matching, steady beat, and others, to get a picture of the student as a whole. I then ask the student their goals, what they would like to achieve from taking lessons with me. I have a diverse background in many different genres of music, as well as my own set of equipment for recording, amplifying, and editing music. The goal is not to simply have a student practice and achieve adequate progress on a specific short song, but to rather have a deep understanding of the music, its context, and content. In my career I have taught students of all experience levels, from absolute beginner, to college level. I have experience with diverse learners, and through my music education experience, access to knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices in music, as well as how to troubleshoot, problem solve, and foster passion in my students.