Tutoring /Private Lessons

Mr. Dodson and the ACR BPA provide many opportunities for student tutoring. Students or parents should contact Mr. Dodson or the private teachers to set up lessons. If the students cannot afford private lessons, with assistance from community resources, Mr. Dodson and the BPA will work with students to provide group lessons or tutoring. 

Flute:

Kate Steinbeck

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J42qLD0tck4a2tvrOYZnbpX2UQ3kr_zo/view?usp=sharing

Oboe: 

Alex Stewart

828.974.1719

Bassoon: 

Rosalind Buda

319.594.1864

Clarinet: 

TBD

Saxophone: 

Nick Stow

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rIFqLIcjvUO-PN2jSaYipmQB9_DYeFJS/view?usp=sharing

Trumpet & Euphonium: 

Tamara Parker

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qNDdZtThqPk-akPrC3spa5bBd1HDAF5p/view?usp=sharing

Horn:

Anthony Ammons 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SYl5kUkCjRMGbhKVV8_3NG-4Egn9sRK8/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100137650569684556005&rtpof=true&sd=true

Low Brass: 

Nick Garrison

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ky6CV2fR_El1WGqX-dCQJZHROCu9bE0T/view?usp=sharing

Percussion: 

Neil Lackey

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VpF4j4U7FQemf3MYPXuVe0N9txuVjFF4FFwYEV0ro_E/edit?usp=sharing

7 Benefits of Private Lessons

One-on-one teaching is the most efficient way to help students excel.  Here are seven benefits of private lessons to share with students and their parents.

1.  Private lesson teachers model a professional sound on their instrument.  If the only sounds students hear are the kids sitting next to them in band, they don’t have the right kind of sound to aspire to.  How do babies learn to talk?  By listening to people talk.  How do instrumentalists learn to play with a characteristic sound?  By hearing a characteristic sound.

2.  Students can perform by themselves weekly and get concentrated feedback. In band, it is rare for students to perform by themselves, and if they do, feedback is usually limited to 10-15 seconds. Performing weekly for a teacher helps them become a more confident and independent player.  They also have more time to give feedback, try again, and continue to work on a problem until it improves because it is an individual setting.

3.  Students can focus on supplemental exercises written specifically for their instrument.  Band class doesn’t allow for the development of lip slurs, register studies, octave slurs, etc., in a way that private lessons can.  These fundamentals are crucial for later development and more advanced playing ability.

4.  Method books written for their instrument are far superior to band music for developing well-rounded players.  Method books, because of their methodical nature, do a much more complete job of covering full range, key signatures, rhythms, duets, alternate fingerings, and styles than the curriculum in band class allows.  Band music is great for many things, but method books are key to becoming a truly accomplished musician.

5. Region/district band auditions can be approached individually. Teachers can meet a child where they are to begin the region band music and help them develop an individual game plan to prepare them for the audition.  This helps students learn how to set long-term and weekly goals.

6.  Instructors allow students to play a unique solo they love at solo contests.  Due to the number of students, band directors often must choose a “class” or “section” solo that may not be a good fit for each student. Lesson teachers, experts on solos for their instruments, can offer students several solos ideal for their development level.  They can also choose solos that work on goals for that student, such as focusing on objectives such as extending range, improving articulation, or extreme key signatures.  Giving students more options means they are more likely to find a solo that personality and that they enjoy playing.

7.  Private lesson teachers provide a role model for students that can be a strong motivation for students to continue in band and excel on an individual level. While students move through different classes, grade levels, and schools, they may have the same lesson teacher for seven or more years. Lesson teachers often know how well a student plays better than anyone else and have a long-term plan for their development.  Private teachers can guide a student from the first sounds in beginner band through a professional-level solo as a senior in high school and know how to get them from one point to the next.