Teaching philosophy
Consider for a moment the many powerful ways in which creative experiences transform us. Expressing ourselves, from the inside out, fosters the development of our selves, nurtures the soul, connects us deeply with others, heals us, and fulfills the vital human need to have our voices heard. With the appropriate mindset and intention, we all have the potential to find creative pursuits that are incredibly personally rewarding and, furthermore, help to strengthen our connection to our community and the world. My underlying vision as a teacher is to guide each student in a way that allows them to find such a path with music.
For children, the importance of exposure to and education in music should be obvious. Unfortunately, many children in our society today do not have access to music education, even though it should be a completely interwoven aspect of our communities. I am committed to providing a rich and enjoyable experience of music for every child I am lucky enough to work with. Every child has unique gifts waiting to be discovered and developed.
The relationship between teacher and student is of profound importance. We must engage students in a meaningful and holistic music program that seeks to connect each musician to themselves and others. Sam's lessons will adaptively include any of the following kinds of work:
For children, the importance of exposure to and education in music should be obvious. Unfortunately, many children in our society today do not have access to music education, even though it should be a completely interwoven aspect of our communities. I am committed to providing a rich and enjoyable experience of music for every child I am lucky enough to work with. Every child has unique gifts waiting to be discovered and developed.
The relationship between teacher and student is of profound importance. We must engage students in a meaningful and holistic music program that seeks to connect each musician to themselves and others. Sam's lessons will adaptively include any of the following kinds of work:
- Body and instrument awareness - Are we aware of our body, and can we learn to listen to it? How does it feel? How do we hold and touch our instrument? How do we find flow and relaxation?
- Note/chord learning - What are the notes to a new piece of music, or an invented piece of the moment? What patterns are in the notes or chords and how are they structured? Can we memorize them?
- Rhythm - Can we maintain a steady beat? Can we learn to feel a rhythmic pulse in the body, and allow our music to be informed by it? How do we give the music rhythmic structure while allowing for artistic flexibility of tempo?
- New techniques - Instrumental skills required for playing new or more difficult music.
- Listening activities - Listening is paramount in developing musical skill. How can always be listening more deeply and fully?
- Relationship building - How do we get along? What is happening in our lives and what do we want to share? How do we feel? What stories do we have to tell?
- Note reading - Learning the skills of reading music.
- Music theory - What intellectual musical concepts can we learn that help us organize our understanding of music? How do scales and chords, rhythms, forms, and words combine to create pieces of music?
- Musicality development - What does it mean to play musically? How do we phrase and create emotion and expressiveness in our playing?
Why study music as an adult?
Working with adult students is a major component of Sam's work as a teacher. As adults we have a calling and a responsibility to our ourselves and our community. A big part of this calling is being continually open to a process of change and growth. We must connect with our deeper selves and allow that connection to fuel a life of integrity, humility, vulnerability, compassion, and creativity. It is a spiritual and sacred path. Entering into a process with music, through your instrument(s) of choice, we discover our selves on this larger path. Music provides a gateway through which our inner nature, our soul, our selves, speak and connect with the world. Therefore it is a symbol, and microcosm of our larger path as individuals and as a society. In addition to nurturing our inner need for self-expression and creativity, studying music provides us insight into what we have to offer our world.
With these ideas in mind, Sam asks his adult students to engage in a process of learning music that opens us to ourselves. Each lesson and practice session is seen as an opportunity to connect with where we are in that moment, emotionally, creatively, physically, and spiritually. Every song and scale is an opportunity to learn about ourselves. To connect with our bodies in new ways, and nurture the mind-body connection. To explore our feelings of anxiety or fear. To appreciate our gifts and have humility in the face of challenge. To begin new practices of self-affirmation, letting go of patterns of self-criticism, and nurture our heart and our love for ourselves and others. Who knows what wonders lie in the depths, waiting to be discovered! Who knows what you will hear when your voice speaks its truth!
Sam appreciates and is nurtured by the paradoxes that music is at once wild, chaotic, controlled and precise, instinctive and slowly developed, soulful and intellectual, really fun and occasionally really frustrating. Music is a journey.
Sam primarily uses the Suzuki curriculum as the basis for his students' repertoire and technical progression. His own foundational training was through the Suzuki method, and he is a certified Suzuki teacher. If you are interested in setting up a lesson, please contact. He is available to discuss rates, instrument acquisition, curriculum, and any other questions you might have.
Working with adult students is a major component of Sam's work as a teacher. As adults we have a calling and a responsibility to our ourselves and our community. A big part of this calling is being continually open to a process of change and growth. We must connect with our deeper selves and allow that connection to fuel a life of integrity, humility, vulnerability, compassion, and creativity. It is a spiritual and sacred path. Entering into a process with music, through your instrument(s) of choice, we discover our selves on this larger path. Music provides a gateway through which our inner nature, our soul, our selves, speak and connect with the world. Therefore it is a symbol, and microcosm of our larger path as individuals and as a society. In addition to nurturing our inner need for self-expression and creativity, studying music provides us insight into what we have to offer our world.
With these ideas in mind, Sam asks his adult students to engage in a process of learning music that opens us to ourselves. Each lesson and practice session is seen as an opportunity to connect with where we are in that moment, emotionally, creatively, physically, and spiritually. Every song and scale is an opportunity to learn about ourselves. To connect with our bodies in new ways, and nurture the mind-body connection. To explore our feelings of anxiety or fear. To appreciate our gifts and have humility in the face of challenge. To begin new practices of self-affirmation, letting go of patterns of self-criticism, and nurture our heart and our love for ourselves and others. Who knows what wonders lie in the depths, waiting to be discovered! Who knows what you will hear when your voice speaks its truth!
Sam appreciates and is nurtured by the paradoxes that music is at once wild, chaotic, controlled and precise, instinctive and slowly developed, soulful and intellectual, really fun and occasionally really frustrating. Music is a journey.
Sam primarily uses the Suzuki curriculum as the basis for his students' repertoire and technical progression. His own foundational training was through the Suzuki method, and he is a certified Suzuki teacher. If you are interested in setting up a lesson, please contact. He is available to discuss rates, instrument acquisition, curriculum, and any other questions you might have.
Student Resources |
Helpful apps and websitesTuner app
iOS: Android: gStrings Metronome app iOS: Android: Metronome Recorded music speed changer app iOS: Anytune Android: Music Speed Changer Free classical music scores at IMSLP |