Teaching Philosophy and Expectations.

The following is a letter I send to prospective, incoming and transfer students followed by mystudio curriculum.

I will do everything in my power to help you become, most importantly - a better musician and secondly a better tuba player. This is what you can expect from me as your teacher. What I expect from you as a student, is your willingness, cooperation and desire to make the same commitment to your own musicianship and professional career. I will not do the work for you! However, you can count on me to help you determine your own path. Lessons with me are very concentrated sessions divided into four areas beginning with duets and/or sight-reading followed by scales and technique, etudes and solos. Assignments are based on individual ability and progress, and I expect students to prepare for lessons.

Suggestions for Practice.
1) Start with a Warm-up. The back of the Hal Leonard Advanced Band Method for Tuba or Hal Leonard Advanced Band Method for Euphonium and/or Trombone have very good warm-ups and supplementary studies. Of particular interest to all low brass players is the tuba method in this series. The supplementary studies in that book were written by Arnold Jacobs. These books are available from music stores supplying materials to your local school bands or orchestras.

2) Scales. Make scales practice part of your daily routine. Each scale should be memorized and played two octaves. Practice all 12 keys every day.

3) Etudes. Pick a new one per week. As tuba players, we frequently work out of trombone etude books playing the music an octave lower than written.

4) Solo. Work on part of a solo every day.
I've included my studio curriculum guide as well as a required repertoire list for freshman. This music is required for my students, however, it is only a starting point. I strongly encourage students to seek out quality music on their own. While most of the music listed will not be in stock at your local music store, they should be able to order it for you, so I've included publishers name (in parentheses) in addition to the titles. You may also order the music directly from Robert King Publishing House (see links). You will cut out the middle-man and if they have the music is in stock and receive it within two weeks.

EUPHONIUM
Lyrical Studies
1. Concone/Shoemaker: Legato Studies for Trombone. (Carl Fischer) FISC $7.00
2. Bordogni/Rochut: Melodius Etudes. vol. 1 (Carl Fischer)FISC $8.50
Technical Studies
1. Gillis: 70 Progressive Studies (for the Modern Bass Trombonist) SOUT $11.95
2. Clarke/Gordon: Technical Studies for Bass Clef Instruments. (Carl Fischer) FISC $10.95
3. Slama: 66 Studies (Carl Fischer) FISC $7.00
Solo Materials
1. Barat: Introduction and Dance (Southern Music) SOUT $4.50
2. De Groot: Paraphrase on an Irish Song (Uitgave Molenaar-Holland) MOLE $15.00
3. Ewald: Romance (Editions Musicus) EDM $5.00
4. Vaughn-Williams: Six Studies in English Folksong/Droste(Galaxy Music Corporation) GAL $8.95

TUBA
Lyrical Studies
1. Concone/Shoemaker: Legato Studies for Trombone. (Carl Fischer) FISC $7.00
2. Bordogni/Rochut: Melodius Etudes. vol. 1 (Carl Fischer)FISC $8.50

Technical Studies
1. Blazevich: 70 Studies for Tuba vol. 1 (Robert King) KING $4.40
2. Clarke/Gordon: Technical Studies for Bass Clef Instruments. (Carl Fischer) FISC $10.95
3. Slama: 66 Studies (Carl Fischer) FISC $7.00

Solo Materials
1. Bach: Air and Bouree (Carl Fischer) FISC $4.50
2. Nelhybel: Suite for Tuba (General Music Publishing Company, USA) GEN $7.95
3. Vaughan-Williams: Six Studies in English Folksong (Galaxy Music Corporation) GAL $8.95