My students benefit from holistic private instruction with emphasis on identifying strengths and achieving student-led goals. My ultimate goal is to build students into self-sufficient problem solvers who are well-equipped to play their best and create harmony within their communities. Students who study with me can expect a mentorship that allows them to voice their opinions and questions in a safe space.

My style of teaching can be summarized as a “coaching” style and involves many opportunities for students to perform, be assessessed, and receive constructive feedback. I also spend time asking students questions about their understanding of learned concepts. During feedback portions of lessons, students will also be asked to demonstrate or explain to me in their own words the concepts we have learned. This format of lesson allows me to observe whether students have learned the concept.

Sequencing is the foundation of my teaching style. When teaching students a new skill, I do so by arranging instruction progressively, building the skill from the ground up until they are able to perform the skill in context. This ground-up approach allows me to break down complex skills to pieces that are more attainable, which can then be built back up to recreate the complex skill. In my lessons, sequencing also involves learning how to practice a new skill in different ways and identify other contexts in which that skill may be applied. 

While not an exhaustive list, students can expect to learn:

• Basic bassoon best practices regarding air support, embouchure, and instrument care

• Achieving musicality through dynamics, articulation, and intonation

• How to efficiently practice and learn technical passages

• Contextual music theory and historical style

I intentionally maintain a small studio in order to ensure continuous high quality instruction. If there are no openings available at a given time, those who are interested in studying with me may request to be placed on the waitlist. Students who are curious, embrace challenges, and are interested in developing their own unique musical voice will flourish in my studio. All are welcome regardless of experience level.