“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once the child grows up.”
Why I Teach. . .
Education in the arts is one of the essential elements to a well rounded education. Regardless of a student’s level of individual achievement, a basic knowledge of the inner workings of music is something that will pay dividends for the rest of that student’s life. It is my belief that this life enriching knowledge of music and degree of proficiency is well within the reach of anyone willing to put in the time to acquire it, no matter the student’s age. In addition to these life long benefits, in the shorter term, the student is developing an expanded approach to learning in a way that will be useful through the entirety of the student’s academic career. In a world where children struggle with appropriate self expression, instruction in music teaches the discipline and confidence to face difficult decisions and every day tasks with a unique set of tools that will last a lifetime.
A Word on Teaching Boys. . .
In our current society, boys face certain challenges, for example, many boys encounter the admonition to do something “like a man”. The context usually has something to do with hiding his feelings and not expressing himself. One of the things a lot of our boys are told is that the arts are “for girls” and are not a valid pursuit for a boy. I was lucky that my first encounter with the phrase “like a man” was my brother when he gave me my first trumpet lesson, I tired of holding up the instrument and he encouraged me to “hold that instrument up like a man”. Most likely, unknowingly, he had planted the seed in my mind that the path I was embarking on was not just for girls, but for anyone. It was part of what gave me the confidence to make music my life’s work. It is one of my obligations in life to pass this on to other young boys and teach them to do music “like a man”.
“Joseph gives voice lessons to my high school level son. He helps him learn to read music, sing in latin, and grow as a muscian. Joseph will work with child and their teacher to tailor lessons . My son’s high school chorus director has been impressed with his progress and we know it is because of the extra help he gets to supplement his lessons at school.”