TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

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My philosophy on teaching comes from both my primary teachers (Paul Orsini, Frank Kaderabek, Charles Schluter and Eric Berlin) and a host of some of the great brass pedagogy of the past 150 years.  First, grounding in the fundamentals of brass playing, Air, Vibration, figures and tongue.  A focus on sound and connection of the notes and music, always keeping in mind that no two students are alike, no two people learn the same way!   Listening to music and developing an ideal or goal is extremely important.  You cannot begin to chart the route unless you know the destination; always be listening.  Finally, first and last is the joy of music!  What are we doing when we learn an instrument?  The technique, the repertoire, scales, slurs etc… Sure, but that can only be the beginning.  We much tell a story- Agony, triumph, sadness, elation, traveling, monastic, the ugly, the beautiful!  All about the story! As Charles Schluter the former principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony use to say,” it’s about the process”, fall in love with the process and you can have a lifetime of joy in music!