My Teaching Philosophy : Finding Their Passion

    When I think of what made me want to become a bassoon teacher, there is only one thing that comes to mind: motivation. I have never been more motivated by something in my entire life, and there was a point at which I realized I needed to share that motivation and love I have for this weird instrument with young people. To me, it is more important to teach the next generation to love music for the rest of their lives than to teach them to make music for that long. I believe through music, anyone can learn valuable skills needed for any industry. As a teacher, I strongly encourage each student to follow their passion, regardless if that’s in music or not, for that very reason.
    It was important to me, in finding a teacher, that they know what I wanted to do with my life because that was—and still is—what motivates me in learning music. These passions each student has are the very basis of their motivation. It’s important to me to build a good enough relationship with my students so that I can see what these passions are. I teach to what makes the student tick, and broaden their horizons from whatever point they are on the musical spectrum. 
    From the relationships that I’ve built with my teachers, I know that private teachers are much more able to mold you as a young student than the teachers they see everyday at school. Because of this, I work to be a role model for my students in all capacities, not just in bassoon. I believe in positive encouragement, and will push them to become better musicians while hopefully shaping them in a positive way. 
    My studio will always be a safe place for all walks of life, and I work hard to ensure that all preconceived notions on any particular background remain outside the door. I realize that every student comes to me with a different story and a different set of skills, but I individualize each student’s education based on their personality and skill-level.
    The journey to figuring out my personal teaching philosophy was very intensive, and required some intrinsic thinking, but these are the experiences I want my students to have because I was fortunate enough to have them. I look forward to working with you and your child, and getting to personally know their passions.