All-state videos are here!

Why take lessons?

There are password-protected pages just for my private students that have videos of scales, All-state etudes, Supplemental Studies Etudes, technique exercises and much more! If you want to find out about this, contact me at [email protected]

Lessons help you reach your potential faster than anything.

All-State:
Here are the 2020-2021 GMEA lyrical Etudes:

Middle School Soprano Clarinet

Concert Band Soprano Clarinet

Symphonic Band Soprano Clarinet

Middle School Bass Clarinet

Concert Band Bass Clarinet

Symphonic Band Bass Clarinet

GMEA technical etudes:

Middle school soprano clarinet

Middle school bass clarinet

What are lessons? Isn't that like tutoring? Something that only students who are behind take? My child is doing fine in band: they get A's so why do they need to work more on music?

These are GREAT questions. Lessons are a way for students to reach their potential. Band is great, I love band. I was in band from 6th grade until... well... I'm still in band 25 years later! I recently performed with THREE community bands within 3 weeks! I love to perform and learn so much every time! But in a band, the director has to work with everyone at once. In lessons, your child gets specialized attention from instructors that are dedicated to making them great. Our teachers are not looking for a paycheck, they are looking to find what makes your child even more amazing than they already are. Where lessons can help a student catch up to the class, lessons can also help propel them ahead of the class. 

Music is a lifelong pursuit of perfection. Your child may get straight A's and be bored in school because the classes are not challenging enough, but music always has something new to offer. There are hundreds of new pieces of music being composed each and every day across the world. 

Okay. I've decided I want my child in lessons.
​Why should we have lessons with you? 

In my studio, I move fast. There will never be a week when your child says they have nothing to practice or work on. My motto is, "If you try, you get an A." But what does that mean? I give students hard music as well as fun music. I give them pieces to practice over a week that they can accomplish in a few days as well as a long-term piece that will take weeks or months to perfect. My goal is to teach them about time management and setting realistic goals. Just like in a career, you won't wake up and all of a sudden be the owner and rich, it will take effort, time, and dedication.

In addition to my rigorous teaching style, we have fun. My students love my sarcastic personality and my ability to make a very frustrating piece of music seem easier and more fun. I love joking around with my students and showing them what music is really about. 

Because I also fix instruments, my studio is located in my repair shop. If students ever have any issues with their instrument not working properly I can usually fix it on the spot.

What can be expected through lessons?

My lessons will prepare students for anything they'll come across in band class, community bands, as well as All-state. All-State is a statewide competition where thousands of students audition to make the "All-state Band." A premier band in our state which is composed of the best we have. There are two bands for every two grade levels. There are two 7th-8th grade bands, two 9th-10th grade bands and two 11th-12th grade bands. Students that make any All-state band have a MUCH higher chance to earn a college scholarship (even if they aren't majoring in music in college!). The All-state audition also serves as the district audition, which a a smaller form of All-state. Ex: There are two All-state bands per grade level and 14 districts in GA.

My students will study through multiple etude and solo books. We will start every lesson with scales, the life force of music. Students essentially learn a new scale every lesson. Next, I start students with the Rubank supplemental book. This book has what I call 'Learning songs.' That is, songs that teach the student a critical skill on their instrument but are also fun to practice. After we complete that book, we go to the "Melodious and Progressive Studies" book which will prepare them for high school level music and beyond. Next we will work on solos, band music, or All-state music. After that, we will work on anything the student may have found and want to play. 

As I said, my lessons are intense and we move quickly. At the first lesson we will discuss the lesson contract (below) which details how to pay for lessons, how to sign up for future lessons, what is expected of the student as well as the parent. In addition, we'll discuss how to use this site to aid your student in their practicing.

We accept students of all ages and levels!

Here is a fantastic breathing exercise to do everyday to build and maintain great breath support:

Concert band soprano clarinet                 Concert band bass clarinet

Symphonic band soprano clarinet           Symphonic band bass clarinet

Would you like to know about the studio?

My studio was recently renovated. I moved into my house in October of 2015 and all I had was an unfinished basement inside the ground level garage. After much effort and many hours, my studio and my repair shop are 100% operational! My studio and repair shop have video surveillance installed as well! I have one room for lessons (which is big enough to hold a quartet or quintet rehearsal!) and another room that is solely my repair shop. If you ever have and instrument issues, there is a chance I can fix it during your lesson!

Students:
Below is the lesson contract. If you prefer, you can have a print-out during a lesson, just ask for it, OR you can get this letter e-mailed to you. 

Thank you for deciding to continue (or start) private lessons. Private lessons are the best way to advance your skill in anything. Lessons are intended to allow your child the most room to grow however they like on their instrument while still meeting the needs of (1)everyday band classes and (2) standards of students their age.
     We all know that it is up to the student to decide how much they want to invest into music. However, there are a few things that you can do to help them achieve more: You can give them encouragement to practice or encouragement as they practice.  You can remind them to make sure they practice the music they love to play as well as the assignments that their teacher has given them. If you can read music or play an instrument, I highly suggest playing with them from time to time. If you can’t, maybe they can teach you. It would be a fantastic opportunity for you to learn about something for which they are passionate and a great chance for them to make sure they know the material by being able to teach it. 
     There are also goals that we can reach as the parent/teacher team. They will be outlined below. The key for us to get the most out of lesson time and class time is communication. I will try to e-mail any issues, victories or general comments that I can.  However, I have many e-mails that I both send and receive each day and some have, and will in the future, fall through the cracks. My goal is to improve commitment on the part of the student. I leave them in charge of communicating with you. You are free to contact me anytime through text or e-mail with any questions you may have. To that end, here are some goals and guidelines for private lessons:

• Private lessons will end with assignments for the next lesson.  Even though assignments will be listed on this website under Student Schedule, please have your child bring a notebook, or something to take notes on, to each lesson.  It would help reinforce their knowledge of assignments if you asked them after each lesson what their assignments are (students will always have more than one assignment from me). It would also help if you asked them throughout the week if they have practiced their assignments.
• Goals for your student should be met by the time specified by the teacher.  If not, then the most likely scenario is that the student has not practiced enough (or efficiently).  (Yes, we realize that there are many things that take time away from lessons, but this will always be the case.  With this, the student needs your expertise in time management to help them allocate their time appropriately.)
• Lessons are assigned through a Sign-up Genius. The Sign-up Genius can be found in my studio of the Band APP. Invitations and membership for this are through text and are only for current students. Students that lapse in their attendance (miss 1 month of lessons or more) will be removed from the app. At the end of every month, a Sign-up Genius is released for the next month. You will take whatever time slots you want for that next month. Students are expected to take at least 4-30 minute lessons or something equal to a minimum of 2 hours of lessons a month. 
• Payment for lessons will be paid within 24 hours of when you sign up for lessons on the Sign-up Genius. Payment is through Venmo @woodwindmaster.
• Late payments will be subject to a $10 fee.
• Make-ups for missed lessons will be scheduled at the teachers’ convenience.  The schedule will be set for each month and if a student must be out, you must provide at least 2 day’s notice. Less than two day’s notice will forfeit the lesson and that time will not be made up.  Because the schedule is as compact as it is, make-up lessons are not guaranteed. If I am out for some reason that was not put on the schedule, you will earn a credit that will be applied towards the next month’s lessons.
• Emergencies: If you must miss a lesson because of an emergency, please find the best time to notify me. In cases of true emergencies that are unforeseen, I will work with you to find a make-up date.
• Lesson time: The time you schedule for a lesson is your time. If you are late to the lesson, I cannot guarantee the full 30 (or 60) minutes for the lesson. If lessons start late because of my schedule, you will still receive the full lesson time.
• PREPARATION: Students may be turned away from their lesson and their lesson time/money is forfeit if students do not practice appropriately. Students will leave each lesson knowing what to practice and how to practice it.
• Students are expected to practice at least 5 days a week for at least 20 minutes each day. ​