The primary focus of my teaching philosophy is designing a course of study that is catered to every individual student because each one of them is so unique. With this in mind, there are a few pedagogically specific ideals around which I center my teaching philosophy that will be incorporated with all of my students.

The first is having a good understanding of habit formation and present time, specifically regarding how to practice. I want each of my students to understand that when they practice something, whether it is right or wrong, they are forming a habit. Incorporating present time and mastering staying in the moment to build these strong habits requires a lot of mental effort, but this is a necessary skill to have if a student wishes to eliminate old bad habits and always be consciously building new, good habits. It also helps students to avoid the mistake of simply going through the motions.

Another important goal for my students is to help them develop an active internal dialogue as they practice. This became a primary goal of mine as a teacher after experiencing many students simply waiting for their instructor to tell them how something is done instead of being shown how to troubleshoot problems. I help students develop this by constantly asking questions, specifically regarding what is happening, why it is happening, and how to fix it.

Incorporation of diverse and inclusive music, recordings, guest artist masterclasses/recitals, and other similar experiences is also monumental to my teaching philosophy. There is a lot that has been accomplished while working toward equity in the musical community, but we still have a long way to go and I make it a point to ensure that each student learns the old standards and the new, knows great musicians from all eras, backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, etc., and gets to experience working with a diverse array of musicians in person.

My ultimate goal with each of these ideals is that my students will be able to understand the concepts and be capable of leading themselves through their future practice sessions/studies/careers effectively, efficiently, confidently, and in a way that is inclusive of all aspects of the musical community. This ultimately produces members of this profession that contribute in a way that is informed, inspired, and constantly capable of growth and contribution.