What A Person Believes - Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is standards based. However, these standards are applied according to students individual needs, whether they are beginners or advanced.

This philosophy along with a full-immersion class room environment helps all students progress at their own pace. I have seen beginning music students in 9th grade advanced to establishing themselves as tops players by 12th grade. My goal is to help all of my music students to become the best version of themselves. Instilling a life-long passion for music and academic success is at the heart of my music program.

Manuel Lopez joined my music program as a string bass player in 9th grade. He recently moved from the Los Angeles area and had no friends. He would often stay after school and watch the marching band practice. After several weeks of encouragement from myself, he finally joined as a euphonium player. I suggested this instrument for him because, like the string bass, it is written in bass clef. During the marching season I gave him two learning targets: learn how to march the show and how to play as much of the music as he could. he was a real trooper. He became a great marcher, throughout the season, and mostly just held the horn. He probably played about 5% of the music. But for me, this was the best he could do, and I was extremely proud of him. His first year in concert band and first festival is an experience he and I will never forget. At the beginning of Shenandoah, the euphonium section played the melody. Nerves got the best of this section, and the opening section was not too successful. They both tried to play, sneaked out a couples notes and stop playing completely. Most band directors would be very upset, I wasn't. I know how scary performing for judges can be for young musicians. However, he persevered and continued to seek my guidance and practice. Fast forward to his junior year. He was section leader for the euphoniums in marching band. During the concert season, he earned euphonium principal chair for the San Bernardino All-County Honor Band. No one from our district had ever achieved this. In his senior year, he become a well-respected musician by his peers. He was the only euphonium player for Wind Ensemble. Basically, he was a featured soloist on every piece. We played Vincent's Persichetti's Symphony for band. This work is typically reserved for University wind ensembles. Only a handful of elite high school wind ensembles in the country are capable of playing this masterpiece of wind band literature. After receiving unanimous superior ratings for our festival performance, I reminded him of Shenandoah. We both had a good laugh. I used these contrasting experiences to help him understand the tremendous growth he accomplished in just four short years. He is going to pursue a career in the Armed forces. His goal is to be selected for the "President's Own" concert band and play professionally throughout the world with the United States Marines.