About

In case you are wondering:

After 26 cherished years teaching band at Forestwood Middle School in Flower Mound, TX, I resigned in 2020.  Why would I do such a thing?

Because of the way we were learning and teaching at that time, I couldn’t stop thinking, maybe I could help more kids, more bands, and more band directors if I was teaching privately.  So, I returned to private teaching, my first love and obsession in music education.  

Here are a few recordings I’ve made to help my students:

Here’s a brief history of me and my trumpet:

I’m originally from Connecticut where I began playing trumpet in 5th grade. See the picture above?  Isn’t it pretty?  That’s the beach in my hometown. 

After almost making All State in 9th grade, I began taking private lessons with Richard Green, an amazing teacher and trumpet player who played in the New Haven Symphony and taught at the Neighborhood Music School, also in New Haven.  Studying with Mr. Green, I went on to make All State, All Eastern and the All-American McDonald’s Band. In other words, because of studying with Mr. Green and practicing, I got better. Throughout high school, I also played in Youth Orchestras, Wind Ensembles and led a small jazz band.  We got to play on the town green, in parades and on the beach.

After high school, Mr. Green shipped me off to Northwestern University where I received my undergraduate degree in trumpet performance.  I studied trumpet with Vincent Cichowicz and Luther Didrickson, performed with the Wind Ensemble under the direction of John P. Paynter, and the Symphony under the direction of Victor Yampolsky.  I was in heaven.

Then, I moved to Texas.  I was a Graduate Assistant at Baylor University, studying trumpet with Barry Hopper (a close friend of Mr. Cichowicz, amazing teacher and incredible human being), performed as a member of the Baylor faculty brass quintet and got to study conducting with Michael Haithcock (he’s amazing!) and conduct the Baylor Concert Band.  I received my Masters degree in trumpet performance and then headed to North Texas.

Long-story-short, 26 years ago, I was playing my trumpet, teaching lessons and helping band directors teach trumpet students.  I loved working with band kids so much, I couldn’t help it, I became a band director.  Oops.  Since then, I taught at Forestwood Middle School in Flower Mound, Texas, until May, 2020.

Now, once again, I am playing trumpet, teaching privately and loving every minute.