Elementary Band

Is your child just starting out and having trouble with their instrument? Check out the "Things To Know" section in the upper right corner for some great tips!

A little bit about me . . .

I have been teaching band students in the Hyde Park School District since 1983. Over the years, I continue to enjoy the journey of helping students learn the instrument of their choice. During my college years, I went to the University of Michigan and received my Bachelor of Music with Distinction in 1979. I taught 2 years in Michigan before discovering the beauty of the Hudson Valley in 1983. I obtained my Master's Degree from Western Connecticut State University. I am very happy to be teaching at both North Park and Violet Avenue Elementary, and look forward to helping my students achieve success on their instrument.

When I was in middle school, I first learned to play the clarinet. In college, I had classes on just about every instrument imaginable. I play the clarinet and saxophone with several jazz bands, including the Sammy Kaye Orchestra. I also keep busy tuning pianos as a part-time job. Other things about me: I am a pilot and did volunteer work with the Civil Air Patrol, a part of the US Air Force. That work involves search and rescue missions for missing airplanes. My most famous search mission as a mission pilot was on July 17, 1999 when I flew an air crew looking for John F. Kennedy Jr's crashed airplane.

The most exciting thing in my life is spending time with my son, Alexander.

One of my famous mottos is:

“A quitter never wins, and a winner never quits!”

Some of my favorite quotes are:

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” – Tom Bodett (we attended high school together)

“Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” – Albert Einstein