Rob B.

Orchestral percussionists studying with me will learn everything they need to know to perform confidently and expressively in solo and group settings. Percussion students can expect extensive exposure to snare drum, xylophone, timpani, and marimba, while also developing skills on auxiliary instruments. We will focus on building healthy and sustainable playing techniques that will prevent injury and encourage expression. BEGINNER PERCUSSIONISTS will start their studies by learning the fundamentals of playing with sticks and mallets. We will develop proper playing technique using written and interactive rhythm exercises. Beginning students will learn the basics of Western musical notation, reading common rhythms and identifying written notes on both treble and bass clef. Students will learn common techniques like rolls, rudiments, and dynamics, and will understand how those techniques are applied to different instruments. Students will also be exposed to the most common scales on keyboard percussion instruments. We will discuss performance and practice strategies, allowing students to feel confident in their playing at home and at school. INTERMEDIATE PERCUSSIONISTS will hone their craft and develop solo repertoire on snare drum, timpani, xylophone, and marimba, using music to refine fundamentals. Students at this level will understand complex rhythms and time signatures, including how to sight-read familiar and unfamiliar rhythms. Students will be able to play all major and minor scales and arpeggios on keyboard instruments. We will also work on four-mallet technique using the Stevens Method of Movement. Intermediate percussionists will be able to tune timpani by ear using a reference pitch. Intermediate students will also understand the key differences between concert percussion and marching percussion and how stick and mallet choice affect sound quality. We will work through the Percussive Arts Society's 40 International Drum Rudiments. We will discuss advanced techniques on auxiliary orchestral instruments and work on the basics of world percussion/hand drumming. Students studying at the intermediate level will feel confident playing any role in their ensemble and auditioning for honors ensembles and collegiate music programs.

Guitar students studying with me can expect guidance through all levels of playing. We will work together to construct a curriculum that is relevant to each student while also stretching their abilities and interests. BEGINNERS will learn open chords, strumming patterns, and simple exercises to develop technique and basic fretboard knowledge. Beginning students will also learn how to read and interpret written musical resources, like chord charts, tablature, and Western musical notation. Following this important groundwork, will work together to develop the skills necessary to play simple songs on both rhythm and lead guitar, learning by rote and by using written resources. Intermediate students can expect to learn the fretboard through interactive exercises and thought experiments. We will discuss common scales and their modes, strategies for writing riffs and solos, and learn how to play all over the neck. INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS will become confident improvisers on guitar, using their knowledge of scale patterns and ability to play by ear to write solos on the fly. Intermediate students will be able to perform and describe common techniques like bends, harmonics, and hammer-ons /pull-offs. We will also work through barre chords, less common chord shapes, and simple chord extensions. This knowledge will culminate in the ability to learn songs at various difficulty levels, switching between rhythm and lead playing throughout songs as needed, and feeling confident in their performance abilities. ADVANCED GUITARISTS will refine their playing through technical exercises and advanced music theory concepts. They will achieve mastery of the fretboard by learning how to construct chords theoretically and how to voice-lead when writing chord progressions. Jazz chord vocabulary and chord-melody writing will be introduced to these students, allowing them to play any genre and style. Students at the advanced level will understand and apply common and uncommon playing techniques like artificial harmonics, economy picking, and two-hand tapping with ease. These students will be able to play famous guitar repertoire by such legends as Jimi Hendrix, Marty Friedman, and Eddie Van Halen. We will also discuss basic guitar maintenance, giving students a sense of ownership over their instruments by making adjustments and modifications beyond changing strings.