The value of private, or “one-on-one” instruction has long been recognized as an important asset in the musical development of young students. It is the one time when a student receives the full attention of a professional musician/teacher to work on a special problem unique to the student on his/her instrument. Orchestra students who are involved in the private lesson program tend to maintain a greater interest level, practice longer, and may generally reach a higher level of proficiency than other students.
Private lessons are available to all orchestra students at Hildebrandt, and are held once a week after school'/before school/ or during orchestra class. Days and times are arranged individually by the private instructor in order to avoid conflicts.
Although students are under no obligation to take lessons and special consideration in placement will not be given to a student enrolling, we highly recommend this program and hope every serious student will take advantage of this opportunity. If you have any questions, or would like the name and phone number of a private teacher, please contact Ms. Dodgen on the contact page.
Students should commit to study for the entire year in which they enroll unless extenuating circumstances require them to withdraw. Each month’s lessons should be paid for in advance, usually on or by the first lesson of each month. When an account becomes in arrears, lessons will be suspended until payments are brought current.
The student is responsible for notifying the private teacher at least 48 hours in advance of a lesson to be missed (do not ask your Orchestra Director to inform the instructor; this is your responsibility). Also, it is the student’s responsibility to reschedule any make-up lessons within a month of the cancelled lesson or forfeit the payment for that lesson.
The financial agreement is between the teacher and the student and his/her parents. In order to guarantee that teachers will be available and that the continuity of lessons will occur, students will be expected to pay for any lessons they miss unless advance notification is made to the teacher. Make-up dates will be scheduled, if possible and at the discretion of the teacher.
Following are the established rates for teachers giving lessons in KISD facilities:
- Level 2 Non-degreed teachers: $22.00 per 1/2 hour
- Level 3 Degreed teachers or teachers with commensurate professional experience: $26 per ½ hour
- Level 4 Teachers with a Masters Degree or with three full consecutive years at a KISD secondary campus: $30 per ½ hour
For more information, please email Ms. Dodgen at kdodgen1@kleinisd.net
Contact Information:
C: 832-483-1711
Bobbi Mauldin recently retired after teaching orchestra for almost forty years in the Texas public school system and now maintains a private violin/viola studio in Klein, TX. Mrs. Mauldin has also been the Director f the Texas Lutheran University’s Community Music Academy. The TLU Community Music Academy is a nonprofit community music school providing music education to students of all ages and levels of ability. While teaching orchestra, her groups were consistent UIL Sweepstakes award recipients, and many of her students placed in the All-Region and All-State Orchestras each year. As a registered Suzuki Violin teacher, she founded the violin program at McGaha Academy in Wichita Falls, TX as well as the Suzuki Violin program in Pecos, TX. Mrs. Mauldin has received several awards for innovative teaching and a government grant for a music listening program she designed for and implemented at McGaha Academy. Mrs. Mauldin has presented clinics at the Magnet Schools of Texas Convention and the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. She conducted the Clear Brook Chamber Orchestra at the Southwest Regional Music Convention in Monroe, LA and the Denton High School Orchestra in Carnegie Hall in New York City. Mrs. Mauldin is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Dustin Cunningham is a locally grown Houston area violinist. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah before his family relocated to Texas quick as they could, opening the door for him to begin studying the violin in school at the age of 10. Since then, he has been inseparable from his violin and making music, having played in orchestras and ensembles throughout Houston and the United States, including on such stages as Sarofim Hall, the Moores Opera House, and The Grand 1984 Opera House, at Lincoln Center Square in New York City, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
He got his feet wet teaching violin by volunteering as a beginner group instructor in the Klein ISD 5th Grade Strings program while in high school, and continued on with the Touch of Music Program in 2017 and with his own students since 2015. He has studied with Dr. Jackson Guillen of Terra Nostra Ensemble, Dr. Javier Pinell, professor of violin at Sam Houston State University, and currently with Dr. Kirsten Yon at the University of Houston. He loves playing chamber music, watching a good musical (or playing in one), eating chocolate covered almonds, and relaxing with a nice glass of chocolate milk after a long day.
Contact Information:
C: (713) 532-3052
Contact Information:
Email: jim@mclelandmusic.com
Cell: (832) 264-7833
Mr. McLeland has been a professional performer and teacher of violin and viola for more than four decades. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance from The Peabody Conservatory of Music of The Johns Hopkins University. While working as a teaching assistant he earned the Master of Music Degree in Violin Performance from Miami University of Ohio and completed all but the dissertation toward the Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance at the University of Houston. University faculty positions previously held by Mr. McLeland include McNeese State University, The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Sam Houston State University. Previous orchestral positions include the Annapolis (MD) Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, a member of and violin soloist with The United States Marine Band Chamber Orchestra ("The White House Orchestra") and Concertmaster of the Lake Charles Symphony and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Summer Music Festival positions include Brevard Music Center Orchestra (both as a high school student and later as an Artist Teacher) and the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. In solo appearances with orchestra, Mr. McLeland has performed concerti by J.S. Bach, Barber, Khatchaturian, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Saint-Saens, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi and Wieniawski. For the last twenty-nine years Mr. McLeland has been living and teaching in the Houston, Texas suburbs of Kingwood and Atascocita. while free-lancing and working as a clinician throughout the greater Houston area. His students have won six Outstanding Solo Performance Awards at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Competition, performing violin concerti by Kabalevsky, Vivaldi, Saint-Saens and Sibelius, Praeludium and Allegro by Fritz Kreisler and the Sonata for Viola and Piano by Rebecca Clarke. He has also produced the highest ranking students in All-State Orchestra auditions from Humble ISD on both violin (6th) and viola (14th) during this time. In 2014 the Texas Music Educators Association awarded their largest scholarship to pursue a music career to one of his students, Sarah Marts, who was a three year Texas All-State Orchestra violinist and student at Atascocita High School. Miss Marts is now the Assistant Orchestra Director at Tompkins High School in Katy, TX. Mr. McLeland's students have won scholarships to Peabody Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, Cincinnati Conservatory, Rice University, Northwestern University, Brigham Young University, the University of North Texas, the University of Houston, Baylor University and Stephen F. Austin University. Others students have received music scholarships as non-majors to colleges and universities throughout the United Sates.
Contact Information:
Email: tlmvc@icloud.com
Contact Information:
Email: contact@amandagraceguilfoyle.com
Amanda Grace Guilfoyle, a seasoned cellist and educator, brings over 15 years of teaching experience to the forefront. With a B.A. in Music from Southern Methodist University, where she studied under cello soloist Andres Diaz, and an M.M. in Music Education, Amanda has a strong foundation in both performance and pedagogy.
Mandy has performed globally, captivating audiences in venues across continents, including on the famed Queen Mary 2 ship and with ensembles such as the Fort Smith Symphony in Fort Smith, AK, The Blue Ridge Orchestra in Asheville, NC, and Dallas Pops Orchestra in Dallas, TX. Her extensive performance experience enhances her educational approach, blending practical insights with a deep understanding of music.
As the founder of Celloly, Mandy provides resources for cellists of all ages and levels, offering both free and paid learning options rooted in empathy, kindness, and understanding. This platform reflects her educational philosophy and commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment.
Currently a cello and strings private lesson teacher in Spring, Texas, Mandy integrates her performance background with a comprehensive knowledge of music education and music business. Her methods enrich the educational experience for aspiring musicians, promoting a holistic approach to music education.
With an Executive MBA in Strategic Leadership from the Valar Institute, she combines her expertise in performance with visionary leadership, continually setting new standards in music education. She remains dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians, advocating for a performance-driven, leadership-informed approach to education.
Scott Card is in his 33rd year of private studio teaching and is currently Principal Cellist with Opera in the Heights, Houston. In addition to active freelancing, he maintains a private cello studio in the Conroe, Klein and Humble, Texas school districts. Mr. Card has been on the faculty of Lamar University in Texas, Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma and Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina. He has been principal cellist of The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra and assistant principal of The Victoria Symphony. Prior to moving to the Houston area, he was a core member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic cello section. Mr. Card has been the recipient of an Aspen Music Center Fellowship, in addition to being a part of the American-Russian Youth Orchestra and Chautauqua music festivals. He was a Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas for three years. Mr. Card received a Masters of Music from the University of North Texas and a Bachelors of Music from Ohio State University. His major teachers include Carter Enyeart, Alan Harris, William Conable, and Jeffrey Solow.
Contact Information:
E: HPScottCard@gmail.com
C: 281-639-0676
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Contact Information:
Email: alief161279@gmail.com
Education:
University of Houston, Houston, TX - Masters in Music Performance and Pedagogy 2021–2023 University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX - Bachelors in Music Performance
2017–2021 Experience:
Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, College Station, TX
2022–Present Brazosport Symphony Orchestra, Brazosport, TX
2022–Present Symphony of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, TX
2021–Present AURA Contemporary Ensemble, Houston, TX - Principal Double Bass
2022–2023 University of Houston Moore Symphony Orchestra, Houston, TX - Principal Double Bass
2021–2022 UT Arlington Symphony Orchestra - Assistant Principal Double Bass
2019–2021 UT Arlington Symphony Orchestra - Principal Double Bass 2017–2019 Festivals Mostly Modern Festival
2023 Brevard Music Center Summer Orchestral Institute
2022 Monteux School & Summer Festival
2021 Major Teachers Eric Larson, University of Houston Dr. Jack Unzicker, University of Texas at Arlington Craig Brown, University of North Carolina at Greensboro