Educational Philosophy

As a teacher I strive to help students identify, set, and achieve their own music goals while encouraging exploration of the diverse world of music. In addition to all of the traditional elements of musical notation, instrumental technique, and performance practice: my educational philosophy focuses on the creative, imaginative, and improvisational elements of music.

At Blumenkönig Studio, lessons are a fun and engaging celebration of music. My goal is that a student comes to each lesson excited to learn, and leaves each lesson excited to practice and play. I believe music can be enjoyed and created by any body, of any age. I teach individual students as young as six.

Whether it’s a performance, an intentional recording, or a casual jam session with your friends, I strive to provide as many opportunities as possible for students to play with others. Making music with others is one of the greatest rewards of a musical education.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do lessons cost?

Lessons are $35/half hour, paid monthly.

What ages do you teach?

I teach lessons for students age 7 and up, and am happy to recommend other teachers for younger students.

How much should I be practicing?

I encourage all students to practice at least five times a week for the full length of their lesson. Especially for the first few lessons, this helps to build an effective practice routine as well as ensuring that playing your instrument for a full lesson is a physically and mentally comfortable task. I also generally encourage a higher frequency of practices above longer lengths of single practice sessions: it is generally more effective to practice several times for a shorter period than a few times for a long period.

If I haven’t practiced, should I still come to my lesson?

Yes! Not only have you already reserved your lesson time, but a lesson can often be an effective motivation and inspiration for further practice. Life happens, and sometimes there simply isn’t enough time as musicians to practice as much as we would like. In the case of limited practice time, practices closely before and/or closely after your lesson are often the most crucial.