My blogs

About me

Introduction	A little about how I teach: As a rule, I offer real classical training through baroque period music to my students as their capabilities and understanding develop in addition to jazz study. This method gives the student a technical mastery of the instrument, the ability to accurately read music notation on his/her own, theoretical understanding of music which further develops reading, and the inherent ear training of the jazz idiom required to be fully literate in all forms of music. I have studied with many teachers including Rob Dumais, Laura Kargul, Ryan Parker, Gary Whittner, Bill Street, Chis Oberholtzer, and Trent Austin at USM Gorham, and the late great Charlie Banacos. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Banacos The improvisational exercises I employ are derived from Charlie Banacos' highly sought after teachings. The lessons I have given have improved my own understanding of music over the years since I started teaching at 15 through the state "gifted" program. http://www.maine.gov/education/speced/gt/index.shtml There have been a number of resources that I have accumulated since that time.

Introduction

A little about how I teach: As a rule, I offer real classical training through baroque period music to my students as their capabilities and understanding develop in addition to jazz study. This method gives the student a technical mastery of the instrument, the ability to accurately read music notation on his/her own, theoretical understanding of music which further develops reading, and the inherent ear training of the jazz idiom required to be fully literate in all forms of music. I have studied with many teachers including Rob Dumais, Laura Kargul, Ryan Parker, Gary Whittner, Bill Street, Chis Oberholtzer, and Trent Austin at USM Gorham, and the late great Charlie Banacos. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Banacos The improvisational exercises I employ are derived from Charlie Banacos' highly sought after teachings. The lessons I have given have improved my own understanding of music over the years since I started teaching at 15 through the state "gifted" program. http://www.maine.gov/education/speced/gt/index.shtml There have been a number of resources that I have accumulated since that time.