Historically informed performance practice is for me not about following the rules. It is about learning the language of the music we play, as well as we can. We can read all the treatises, know all the current research, understand harmony, and practice our instruments. This is all extremely important, but it is the foundation for what comes next. It is our job as musicians, no matter in which style, which tradition, on whatever instrument, to work sounds we create in a way that creates meaning for our audiences. We need to interpret the rhetoric of the music we play. The goal of learning the steps and tools to create the greatest impact for our listeners is the cornerstone of my teaching.

In teaching, I take a whole-person approach. I do not believe there is only one truth in music, and there can be multiple legitimate interpretations to the same piece of music. My goal is to help my students find their own voice and mode of expression, within the framework of what we know as the Western classical music tradition, and further nested in the early music tradition. My goal is never perfection, as I believe the lure of perfection is damaging to musical expression, but rather helping my students try to balance feeling good enough as a performer with improvement. Our field has become quite toxic in expecting perfection, something that doesn’t exist, especially in such a subjective field as music.

I focus on building musical interpretation through knowledge and craft. Learning how to interpret the information on the page and know the places where we can make our own creative decisions is paramount.

Technique is approached in a way as to serve the musical expression. I focus a lot on the use of the body, through body awareness and proper form. The historical instruments and the bodies that play them have a much closer connection to the creation of sound than the modern bassoon.

Lessons are offered in-person or online. Let me know via the contact page if you would be interested.