TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
High School Composition Intensive at Boston Conservatory/Berklee (2023-present); string quartet faculty
The 92nd Street Y, New York City (2024-future); private violin lessons, chamber music coaching, adult beginner strings classes
Symphonic Youth Program at Mott Hall School with Multicultural Music Group (2023-present); private cello, viola & violin lessons, conductor/coach of strings sectionals
Bungalow Music School, Brooklyn (2022-2023); private piano, strings & voice lessons
Roberts Creek Highland Centre, violin teacher (2018), private lessons and group classes
Powell River Academy of Music, violin teacher (2010-2012), private lessons
INSTRUMENTS & SUBJECTS OFFERED:
Violin & Viola (beginner to advanced)
Piano (beginner to intermediate)
Ukulele (beginner)
Voice (beginner)
Basic Music Theory
Basic Ear Training
Ableton Live & Recording Basics
Max MSP Basics
Teaching Philosophy (instrumental lessons):
- Seeks to provide students with the tools they need to achieve a high level of proficiency on their instrument, be artistically expressive, develop their own musical ideas, and engage with a wide variety of musical repertoire and styles.
- Lesson plans are individually tailored based on students’ age, learning style, and goals, with an overall aim to instill a passion and appreciation for music which students can carry with them throughout their lives.
- Seeks to help students develop their own unique musical voice, and introduce practice techniques that will keep their minds actively engaged and bodies pain-free to help ensure a long, healthy relationship with music.
- Aim is for students to be well-rounded musicians, no matter their focus in music. Along with mastery of a chosen instrument (or software), short composition/improvisation exercises are integrated into lessons, along with listening & rhythm exercises, coverage of different musical styles and interpretations, and discussion of general music history topics.
- Promoting ergonomic instrument technique is a top priority (giving attention to posture, breathing, appropriate warm-up routines)
WHAT NEW STUDENTS CAN EXPECT:
- I follow a Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum for new piano students, and utilize a modified Suzuki Method for beginner string players (overview below):
Students begin with Suzuki repertoire - melodic, fun, and expressive pieces, each created to systematically develop a different element of instrument technique and listening. I also incorporate arrangements of fiddle music, pop songs, jazz standards, showtunes, folk songs, etc (tailored to the level and technical concerns of the student in question) into my students’ repertoire, to expose them to a wide variety of styles early on.
- Importance of daily practice is emphasized; methods for efficient and enjoyable practice are introduced
- Games & exercises are incorporated which develop students' listening and fine motor skills
- In the case of young children (up to age 8), parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to observe lessons so they are familiar with how to aid their child in at-home practice
- Music-learning is treated similarly to acquiring a language; aural exposure (through listening to recordings, attending concerts) and daily repetition are strongly encouraged
- Music-reading is introduced separately from the instrument at first, then becomes integrated into repertoire learning throughout the first year of lessons
- Students are encouraged to listen to recordings, study musical scores, play in student recitals, and attend concerts. Group concert field-trips and recitals are organized seasonally.
Email WashingtonHeightsMusic@gmail.com for more information :)
Artist Visa Resources & Services;
Materials for International Artists Applying for the U.S. O1B Visa
-General guidelines for preparing for the O1B visa application sourced from multiple immigration law firms within the US
-Templates for contracts & testimonial letters
-Resources for fighting and preventing RFEs (memorandums from the USCIS, papers from publicly available legal sources, etc)
-Exemplary materials from successful O1B applications