Teaching Materials

My “Starting 5” of Brass Playing

In the art of brass playing, I believe that there are five fundamental pillars that excellence rests upon. These fundament skills being the use of your air, embouchure, fingers, tongue, and ear. These elements make up my “Starting 5” of brass performance. Each element plays a crucial role in shaping the sound and technique of a brass musician. The flow of the air acts as the foundation for any sound we make on the instrument. Contrary to what many may believe, our embouchure does not produce a buzz until an airstream is applied. The embouchure then controls the pathway of the airstream to ease accuracy of pitch. The following use of your fingers, tongue, and ear must also work in tandem with each other to facilitate the further technical abilities of brass playing.

Personal Philosophy of Education

The primary responsibility of an educator is to foster a nurturing and inclusive environment so students may feel safe to explore, learn, and grow holistically. Creating this atmosphere is of the utmost importance in my studio as it allows students to embrace their own authenticity within the process of learning as each student is a different learner, musician, and human.. As an educator I serve in a supporting role so that my students can learn from their errors within a forgiving space before encountering issues on their own. I firmly believe that students must be given a voice to actively engage in their own learning, and the presence of a student’s ideals further fosters a collaborative and cooperative educational environment. As an instructor, my primary goal is to facilitate meaningful discourse with my students rather than only disseminating information to them. Recognizing the value of mutual respect and shared learning, I view my students as partners in our educational journey. This encouragement of open dialogue and honoring a student’s perspective often allows for a more in-depth discussion of a topic.

Music education, specifically, holds importance for its innate ability to allow students an outlet of genuine expression that contributes to their overall well-being. My tutelage will adapt in various ways to meet the students where their expression blossoms. This may includes providing opportunities for student input in selecting musical repertoire and/or learning content empowering them to connect personally with their studies and cultivate deeper engagement and understanding.

The skills my students gain are tailored to extend far beyond a band room or practice room. My role as a music educator stretches outside of imparting only musical skills; it encompasses nurturing creativity in practice with various strategies, fostering collaboration within the educational environment, and promoting cultural understanding in all aspects of life. By creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment, I empower students to become curious, collaborative, and empathetic humans.