My Teaching Philosophy.
Learning to play the clarinet should be enjoyable. At the same time, to get the most enjoyment requires a level of commitment and personal discipline. I help my students develop the temperament for learning and making music at a high level. You can have a lesson with me once a week, but you can have a lesson with yourself everyday!
Beauty and consistency of tone are the foundation of all good playing - learning to make a good sound is central to the work in lessons for students at all levels. No one will care what you can do on the instrument unless you fundamentally sound good.
Working towards exams or auditions (i.e. all-district/all-state pieces, solo festival pieces) can form part of the lessons when a) the student is ready, b) having this goal helps the student in terms of structure, and c) working towards the audition, etc. is not a substitute for lack of motivation or enjoyment in the process of learning to make music itself.
Lesson FAQ
In order to keep my teaching at the highest level, I keep a small studio of students, and teach a total of 4 lessons a week. My time slots are Saturday and Sunday mornings, 10am and 11:15am. I typically have one hour lessons, but I am happy to adjust my fee for younger students and have 45 minute lessons. I am also happy if students wish to have a lesson every other week rather than weekly. In this event, I need to be sure students are practicing adequately between lessons.
My fee for an hour lesson is $80, and $60 for 45 minutes. My studio is located in MetroWest Boston - North Framingham near the Wayside Inn- which is where all of my teaching takes place. I am also listed on the DoReMi World directory.
My lessons are focused on the fundamentals of good clarinet playing and musicianship- tone, tone, tone (and breathing!). I always spend a good portion of each lesson on the fundamentals. I also like having students always working on a piece (be that a Rose etude, clarinet sonata or concerto, or even a simple melody for beginners) to integrate the fundamentals in a meaningful way. The other important facet of lessons are duets. I am constantly playing in students’ lessons as I want them to internalize good sound, and also learn how to play with others - rhythm, tuning, etc - as so much with music is heard and learned, rather than explained verbally.
My students have done well (especially those who practice!) and received high marks in Massachusetts All-State and All-District auditions, solo festivals, college auditions, and college exams and the like. If you sound good, people will want to listen!
Get Started
Contact me to schedule a lesson!