| :: Private Lessons:: |
:: Blue Valley West High School Band ::
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There are a variety of benefits to and motivations for taking private lessons. Discussing these ideas with your
student may help them to clarify the reasons behind their desire or decision to study privately. As parents, this
may help you determine if such study is warranted and, therefore, something you can and should support.
Some of the obvious student motivations for studying privately could include the immediate: "to get better,"
"to do well on my next playing test," "to win a scholarship competition," "to become first chair," "to get into
District Band," "so I can play harder music". These are immediate and worthy goals. We should also be open to
the possibility that we might not want to limit our quest to these "ends" but use them as a starting point on our
musical journey.
As a parent, one may wish to consider some of the less obvious benefits of private study that do not exclude
your child's initial motivations but could be beyond his or her initial grasp. These might include:
It should be apparent that all of these items listed could begin with "learning how to…". This is extremely
important. In a private lesson situation, quality teachers have the opportunity to work individually and directly
with a student, at their own rate of progress, with the process of learning. To me, this is the key to good
teaching and the cornerstone of private lessons! Private teachers can act as a guide to the process of self-
discovery through music. If these are not foreign ideas, then one should applaud a child's desire to seek lessons
with a private teacher and support him/her in that undertaking whole-heartedly.
student may help them to clarify the reasons behind their desire or decision to study privately. As parents, this
may help you determine if such study is warranted and, therefore, something you can and should support.
Some of the obvious student motivations for studying privately could include the immediate: "to get better,"
"to do well on my next playing test," "to win a scholarship competition," "to become first chair," "to get into
District Band," "so I can play harder music". These are immediate and worthy goals. We should also be open to
the possibility that we might not want to limit our quest to these "ends" but use them as a starting point on our
musical journey.
As a parent, one may wish to consider some of the less obvious benefits of private study that do not exclude
your child's initial motivations but could be beyond his or her initial grasp. These might include:
It should be apparent that all of these items listed could begin with "learning how to…". This is extremely
important. In a private lesson situation, quality teachers have the opportunity to work individually and directly
with a student, at their own rate of progress, with the process of learning. To me, this is the key to good
teaching and the cornerstone of private lessons! Private teachers can act as a guide to the process of self-
discovery through music. If these are not foreign ideas, then one should applaud a child's desire to seek lessons
with a private teacher and support him/her in that undertaking whole-heartedly.
| Blue Valley West Wind Symphony Performs Carnegie Hall in New York City March 10, 2006 |
| FLUTE TEACHERS Suzanne Stricklin sstricklin@bluevalleyk12.org Judy Johnson drjflute@prodigy.net 913-649-5460 Susan Murphy sm@opflutist.com www.opflutist.com Christina Webster 785-554-6535 wildflute@hotmail.com |
| CLARINET TEACHERS Joe Hubbard bandmasterstudio@att.net 913-254-9808 Ashley White 417-894-3844 David James mjames8@kc.rr.com |
| SAXOPHONE TEACHERS Joe Hubbard bandmasterstudio@att.net CJ Longabaugh - BVW cjlongabaugh@bluevalleyk12.org |
| BASSOON TEACHERS Jodie Lin jolin@kckps.org 913-449-7439 Lisa England 816-260-5049 |
| OBOE TEACHERS Jason Paschall 817-253-6162 jasonpaschall@gmail.com Lisa England 816-260-5049 Louri Vodolazski iouriv@yahoo.com |
| TRUMPET TEACHERS Kate Umble keu36f@umkc.edu (717) 333-7853 Grant Smiley gtsmiley1@gmail.com 913-897-1030 Barry Springer 913-362-6800 |
| TROMBONE / EUPHONIUM TEACHERS Dave Cooper ecooper@bluevalleyk12.org dbbmcooper@kc.rr.com Dr. Brian R Scott Euphonium Teacher 225-354-5611 brscott402@aol.com Russ Zokaites 540-392-2581 russ.zokaites@gmail.com |
| PERCUSSION TEACHERS Matt Arnet marnet@kc.rr.com Calvin Dugan calvindugan@gmail.com Ben Strain bstrain@bluevalleyk12.org Doug Auwarter, Drum Set UMKC Adjunct Faculty dauwarter@kc.rr.com Ray DeMarchi, Drum Set 913-451-2150 |
| HORN TEACHERS Andrea Stanton UMKC Doctoral Student 816.262.2052 andrea.m.stanton@gmail.com Curt Vellenga cvellenga@kc.rr.com |
EUPHONIUM & TUBA TEACHERS Dr. Brian R Scott Euphonium Teacher 225-354-5611 brscott402@aol.com Eric Banks ericjbanks@gmail.com |
| ACCOMPANISTS & PIANO TEACHERS Mrs. Beth Grace 913-239-0462 Mr. Kelly Sanford san4dz@yahoo.com 913-851-0188 Mr. T.J. Martley Tj.martley@gmail.com Mr. Kevin Bogan KCB1stPres@aol.com Ms. Pamela Klifar pklifar@bluevalleyk12.org Christina Webster UMKC Doctoral Grad. 785-554-6535 wildflute@hotmail.com |
| Why study privately? Is it really worth it, Mr. Kirk? Here is why we believe so... |
| non-parental adult support and encouragement overcoming obstacles independently time management skills coping with difficulties problem solving strategies self-honesty, integrity and accountability non-judgemental self-assessment application of self-discipline independent assignment preparation clarifying intentions clear decision making mental and physical coordination respiratory muscle development facial muscle development hand-eye coordination overcoming harmful habits encouragement of curiosity stimulation of creativity application of thoughtfulness critical thinking skills |
| Blue Valley West played at Carnegie Hall?! 90% of band students were enrolled in private study... |