Experience Summary
I've been studying saxophone for 14 years. Since high school, I've been an active music educator and have taught students of all ages and backgrounds. My quartet that I've been involved with since the Fall of 2012, La'Ventus, has performed throughout the United States and Italy. We most recently were awarded Third Place in the American Prize in Chamber Music Performance Competition. In July 2015, we will perform at the 17th World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg, France.
Here are a few links to my quartet's music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kx2ZUxJmEc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03caMOx91iQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0TKUa_lZUE
We also have a soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/laventus-quartet
Teaching Style
At the core of my teaching philosophy lies the belief that teaching and learning go hand in hand and that effective teaching depends on successful communication between teacher and student. A music lesson is a collaborative effort. Not only does a student hopefully learn in his or her lessons, the teacher learns from the students! My teaching “techniques” are solutions – born from the need to solve a specific challenge with any particular student. In the teaching process itself, putting myself in the student’s shoes allows me to consistently find solutions that work for each individual student and grow as a music teacher.
In order to generate collaboration in a lesson, I believe in creating an atmosphere that encourages participation and involvement. My goal is to motivate and challenge my students and help them to enjoy the music they play. A motivated student assumes responsibility and ownership for his or her own learning and goes beyond requirements. This requires great artistry and creativity from the teacher in order to bring understanding and active participation during each lesson. Varying instructional techniques according to the individual ability and learning style of each student helps to reach this goal. Although it is important to build solid technique and musicianship, it is also essential that students learn about the background of a particular piece of music, understand it analytically and know it in historical and cultural context. It is this combination that enriches a student’s ability to think about, discuss, and perform repertoire with a new awareness of its aesthetic significance.
I firmly believe that a teacher needs to constantly reflect on his or her own teaching. The best source for reflection is my students. I like to check in with students about their understanding of a new lesson and ask for their feedback. The students’ input helps me mold my techniques to their needs. I believe that a strong teacher is constantly searching for effective ways to help his or her students achieve successful learning. There is no “one size fits all” recipe for teaching music. An effective music teacher needs to be flexible, creative, resourceful, and remain current and proficient in teaching strategies and overall playing ability. Therefore, I keep up-to-date through attending seminars, symposiums, and workshops and pass information learned onto my students.
In our lessons, we will focus on using the saxophone as a vehicle for musical expression and on learning to control the instrument in a way that will expand your palette of musical choices. These include the following:
-perform with a unique yet acceptable timbre
-perform in tune
with excellent rhythmic accuracy. standard repertoire with technical mastery. within stylistic parameters
-perform with color and dynamics
-perform with understanding of the compositional process and historical context
With my dedication and patience, I aim to inspire and teach students to learn and develop their craft to their best abilities, so that they may continue to grow under their own guidance and share that talent and knowledge with current and future generations. When you study music as a saxophonist, I will work with you to help you realize your full musical potential. I strive to help students develop their musical intelligence, confidence, and consistency, and to enable them to become their “own artist.” Furthermore, I work hard to inspire growth in my students by giving them tools to take into other disciplines and into other domains of their life. Among these tools are a sense of curiosity, open-mindedness, and a hunger for knowledge.