Beginner training plan
Your first lessonIf you’ve never played a brass instrument before, I will show you how to produce a buzz, how to manipulate that buzz to get different pitches, and how to hold the horn. If you have played trumpet or trombone/etc. I’ll help you make sure your embouchure is proper for the horn, and show you the differences between the two.
Lesson 2-3I will give you basic fundamental exercises to work on tone production, and work on your ear to help you recognize pitches. (And help you read music if you need that!) These exercises will be focused on the harmonic series (lip slurs) and scales.
Lesson 4-10We will work on short, consecutive etudes (pieces to help technique) and I will give you a solo/something you find fun to play, so you can apply everything you’ve learned up until now.
Lesson 11+We will continue to work on fundamentals, etudes, solos, and anything else that you want to play (band music, chamber music, orchestral excerpts, etc.) What happens for the rest of the lessons completely depends on what your goals and aspirations are :)
Youth players
Working with teenagersI work often with teenagers, as I coach horn at various high schools, such as Mission Hills in San Marcos. It’s important to me to keep the exercises challenging and engaging, but balance them to a high schooler’s already demanding work load. I’m a strong advocate that young people can learn much more complicated concepts than most adults expect them to, so I don’t dumb anything down, but I work patiently and with grace.
I work particularly well with neurodivergent and queer kids. (I am both of them myself!)
