Private Instructors

Private instruction is invaluable for a young musician.There is no possible way that the band director can cover EVERYTHING for every single instrument in a group setting. Private lessons are a way to learn specifically about how to excell as an individual musician on an individual instrument. So, the student becomes more confident on his or her instrument, and the band becomes stronger as a result. Private lessons reinforce band class skills, but also challenge students individually at their own appropriate learning speed on his or her instrument. Lessons provide a remarkable return on a minimal investment. An example is a student that I taught as a beginner, who then moved to James Monroe and participated in my husband's band program, and continued her band experience at the high school level at Cibola. She began private lessons in sixth grade, taking one private lesson for thrity minutes each week (excluding holidays, etc.) for the thirty-six weeks of each school year. She took private lessons for seven years. Her parents invested approximately $5040 in private lessons during those seven years. She graduated high school this past year and received a college scholarship in the amount of  $36,000 to attend Northern Arizona University. This scholarship is simply for playing in the music ensembles at the school, even though she will not be majoring in music. So, for approximately the cost of ordering a pizza to be delivered to your home for dinner each week, this student's college career is PAID FOR!! Private lessons also open the door to opportunities such as The Albuquerque Youth Symphony program. To be considered for this program, students must audition. There is no way that class time can be taken in preparing individual students for such an audition. Private teachers in our area encourage students to participate in this outstanding program, and can prepare them on specific audition requirements. A former Taylor band student began private lessons in seventh grade in order to audition for this group, and was accepted. His group went on a concert tour of Brazil this summer! The AYS takes a trip abroad approximately every two years (excepting two years ago when they performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, that is). Several former students from the Taylor Band have earned varisty letters in band at Cibola during their FRESHMAN year. They managed this feat by taking private lessons and earning more points towards their letters than many sophomores or juniors NOT enrolled in lessons. In addition to the list below, good resources for finding a private teacher are  the University of New Mexico Music Department, the NMSO, and Baum's Music. I hope you will consider investing in private lessons for your band student.

Private Instructors: Flute: Heidi Sorber ph. 332-9339 Flute: Serena Ward ph.922-1626 Clarinet: Loretta Krein ph.897-2565 Woodwinds: Lee Taylor ph. 299-1658 Woodwinds: JR Williams ph. 238-3360 Saxophone: Megan Sebastian ph. 299-9241 Woodswinds, Brass & Double Reeds: Michael Shaver ph. 321-7535 Trumpet: Mark Hornbacher ph. 440-9593 Trumpet: John Trujillo ph. 344-7664 Horn: Niels Galloway ph.994-1109 Horn: Sabrina Carrillo ph. 331-5475 Horn & Trumpet: Dennis Heeter ph. 254-8816 Trumpet & Trombone: Larry Case ph. 299-1579 Low Brass: Tonya Akeley ph. 265-7677 All instruments: George Murrey (retired middle school band teacher with 32 years experience) ph. 898-6445

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