Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philophy can be broken down into three parts:
- Physical Mastery
- Musical Mastery
- Having Fun
Physical Mastery
Having a strong foundation makes everything easier. Physical mastery of the instrument enables good music-making and enjoyment.
Musical Mastery
Understanding the music helps convey meaning and enriches understanding. Just like with words, if you don’t understand the language, it’s frustrating to communicate.
Having Fun
Above all else, it is important to have fun! Why else would you do anything if you don’t enjoy it? Regardless of your trumpet goals, I want to set you up to enjoy playing throughout your life.
Information
What To Expect
Lessons come in two time lengths: 30 min and 1 hour. Beginning students and intermediate students can expect to have half-hour lessons. Once the student can practice for at least an hour at a time without fatigue, then I recommend hour-long lessons.
During the lesson, we will cover the basics as described above: Physical Mastery and Musical Mastery.
Books that will enable Physical Mastery include the Arban’s Book, Clarke Studies, and Colin’s Lip Flexibility. The Arban’s and Clarke are in the public domain and can be downloaded onto a tablet, although I do recommend purchasing a physical copy of the book.
Books that will enable Musical Mastery will vary depending on the student’s skill level but some of my personal favorites include Chalier, Wurm, and The Art of Phrasing which can be found in the Arban’s Book.
I encourage note-taking and recording the lessons.
How Often Should I Practice?
The short answer is every day. A student playing every day and not receiving lessons will get better faster than a student not practicing while receiving lessons. The true magic comes when you practice every day AND receive specialized instruction and that’s why you are here!
One of the most effective ways to hold yourself accountable is to keep a practice journal. In addition, this can inform me of your practice habits as well. I highly encourage anyone to keep a practice journal regardless of level.
Where
I offer two options for a place of learning: my personal studio or my traveling.
My studio is located at the Portland Creative Arts Collective. I teach out of this studio Thursdays through Sundays. Please inquire about availability. Reduced lesson costs must take place at the studio.
My traveling studio has several unique benefits, primarily you don’t have to worry about traffic! However, if you would like for me to give you a lesson at your home I require three things: a space dedicated to learning with minimal distractions, proper seating, and a music stand. I teach from my traveling studio on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If the location is more than 20 minutes (regardless of traffic) from my last location, I reserve the right to charge a $10 premium. Please inquire about availability.
Rates
For 30-minute lessons, I charge $40. For 1-hour lessons, I charge $80.
What if I can’t afford lessons?
I believe that every student should be able to take music lessons. There are many options available if you are unable to afford them.
- AFM Local 99 has a subdivision called the Music Education Assistance Project. At the beginning of every year, they award up to $600 to assist low-income music students in getting private lessons. Please visit their website to learn if you qualify: https://meap99.org/grants/
- If you are a part of the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP), they will automatically offer private lesson assistance up to $1,440 if you qualify for financial aid. Talk to me about joining PYP if you want to take advantage of this offer.
- Talk to me! I am making a living off of teaching private lessons but that shouldn’t interfere with your music education! We can make arrangements including having 1 lesson a month or having a sliding scale lesson cost. If there is no resolution that I can personally provide, I can also recommend an assortment of other excellent teachers in the Portland Area.
Please email me at mitnel.mn@gmail.com to inquire about lessons.