Music For Everyone Call Us: 303.543.3777 Open Hours: Mon – Thurs. – 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm / Sunday – 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Music For Everyone Call Us: 303.543.3777 Open Hours: Mon – Thurs. – 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm / Sunday – 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
I earned my master’s in music performance from the University of Northern Colorado in 2021. During my time there, I played with numerous ensembles including big bands, orchestras, jazz combos, brass quintets, and trombone ensembles. I studied with Dr. Nat Wickham at UNC primarily. Originally, I am from Wisconsin and got my undergraduate degree in performance at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. In Platteville, I was able to do a wide variety of different musical activities from performing in all kinds of ensembles to conducting bands and choirs. I even got to start a battle of the bands festival there. As a professional instrumental performer, I’ve had the opportunity to play with great groups like the Larimer Chorale, the Dubuque Brass Quintet, Ken Killian’s Classic Big Band, The Hal Edwards Orchestra, Rountree Ensemble, the Swing Crew, and many others. Music is endless, I like to explore as much of it as possible!
My approach to teaching is very individualized and catered to each student’s needs. Every student is unique, so my lessons look different for each student that I teach. Generally, my goal is to balance creative expression with solid fundamental work. I have students set goals they want to achieve over a semester and we work towards those goals. My studio is an open environment where students can feel free to express themselves through music and take chances with their playing. I’m here to help my students on the path to making music more fun and enjoyable. Every person’s journey in music is different, I’ll be there to help guide you to achieving your personal goals!
My favorite practice technique is what I call ‘Walking It Back.’ I stumbled upon it in a practice room a few years back. I was tasked with a very hard passage of notes that spanned a wide range on the instrument. While using a metronome (always use a metronome!!!), I slowed the passage down and started with playing only the last note. After I played that a few times and felt good about it, I added the second-to-last note and played those two notes together at a slow tempo. Working backwards, I ‘walked it back’ adding notes slowly until I had added all the notes back to the passage, then I sped up the tempo. I’ve come back this technique over and over and it hasn’t failed me. This generally takes about 5-10 minutes depending on the passage, but the results stick with you! Muscle memory is an important part of playing an instrument, and this technique helps with solidifying good muscle memory!
Hip-Hop: The Roots, Mac Miller, Thundercat
Rock: Pink Floyd, Microwave
Folk: The Milk Carton Kids, Bob Dylan
Classical: Anton Bruckner, Gustav Mahler
Jazz: Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan
“A note can be as small as a pin or as big as the world, it depends on your imagination.” — Thelonious Monk
I started playing piano in third grade because my mom told me I should learn an instrument (she knew me better than I did then!) I played piano regularly until high school. Starting in sixth grade, I started playing trombone and a few years later I began to really enjoy it. Sometimes it takes some practice to start enjoying something, and I’m glad I stuck with it because I love it now. In college my main focus was trombone, but I learned all the brass instruments and studied tuba and euphonium extensively. I still play piano for fun and use the knowledge and skills it gave me in my teaching and practice.
THE LESSON STUDIO BOULDER MUSIC LESSONS