Teaching Philosophy

It is my firm belief that we are all life-long students. I seek to learn every day through teaching things that I love. I learn just as much from my students as they do from me. My goals in starting Horizon were to expand people's artistic horizons, whether through the study of music or coaching in creativity. In the private lessons, group classes, and workshops I hope to inspire people to learn each and every day. Whether a student is interested in learning to play Beethoven or in jumping their creative hurdles I want to help them.

Musical Instruction

Expression of music is the ultimate goal. Connecting with an audience through music is one of the most powerful things we can do as artists. In order to do that we need a solid foundation, grounded in reliable technique. My approach with my instrumental students is to give them as many tools as possible to allow them to reach a level where they can confidently express ideas inherent in the pieces they play, filtered through their unique perspectives. As such I work with my students on technical exercises, scales, shifting studies, and etudes, all with the final goal of bringing the music to life.

The wonderful thing about vocal music is the addition of the text. This additional element provides endless ways to interpret the music we perform. Just like instrumentalists, vocalists need a solid, and reliable technique. I come from a school of thought that states that all styles of singing, from art song to Broadway to opera to pop, require the same technique from the neck down. With this in mind I spend much of my time with my vocal students working on breath and support and tone, all in an effort to get the healthiest sound possible from my singers.

It is very difficult to work with other people if you cannot speak their language. As music is all about collaboration I work with all of my students to ensure they are fluent enough in this magical language to communicate with musicians the world over.

Creativity Instruction

I began my career as a teacher completely blocked to my own artistic dreams. I was drawn into the field in order to be near those who were not stifling their own creative potential. In my mid-twenties I realized I was incredibly unhappy, and finally connected it to a lack of creation in my life. I spent the next couple of years working to undo those old thought processes and begin my creative life anew. The result is a much happier and more productive existence. Now I want to help others find that same thing. Using tricks and tools from various sources mixed with healthy doses of my own experimentation and failings I design my creativity workshops to help others get to know themselves better as people, and therefore as artists.