Private Lessons

Supplemental lessons are available through the band program to all band students. Individual instruction is extremely beneficial due to the one on one teaching environment. The supplemental teacher is able to design a program that meets each student’s individual needs enabling them to progress at their own pace. Supplemental lessons are strongly recommended for all Wilson Band students.

The success we enjoy in the Wilson Band can be directly attributed to the instruction students receive in Lessons.

Click the link below to fill out an online private lesson request. Your response will be sent to Mr. Waterman and he will have a private lesson teacher contact you.

Private lesson signup form CLICK HERE

Flute: Abby Easterling

aceflute27@gmail.com

Oboe: Ryan Estes

oboeologist@gmail.com

Clarinet: Grace Frarey gmfrarey@gmail.com

Saxophone: Tanner Deters

tannerdeters@me.com

Trumpet: Cody Saucier

codysaucier7@gmail.com

Horn: Addison McGarity

mcgaritymusicteacher@gmail.com

Trombone: Jack Courtright

jackson.courtright@gmail.com

Euphonium/Tuba:

Garrett Alford garrett.alford@outlook.com

Euphonium/Tuba:

Jonathan Watkins

jonathanwatkins@gmail.com

Percussion: James Merritt

jpmusic101@gmail.com

Percussion: Caden Cook cadenc.cook@gmail.com

MORE ABOUT OUR LESSON STAFF

FLUTE: Abby Easterling

Abby Easterling is the Principal Flutist of the Dallas Winds, the Las Colinas Symphony, and the Mckinney Philharmonic, and Associate Principal Flutist of the Helena Symphony. Originally from Grapevine, TX, she holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Rice University; her primary teachers include Bonita Boyd, Leone Buyse, Anne Harrow, and Helen Blackburn.

Abby has won honors in competitions across the country, including first prize in the Philadelphia Flute Society Young Artist Competition, South Carolina Flute Society Young Artist Competition, and the National Flute Association Orchestral Excerpt Competition. In 2018, she was the sole flutist selected as a winner of the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition.

Abby teaches privately across the DFW area and enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, cooking healthy meals, and playing with her dog Harper.

OBOE: Ryan Estes

Mr. Estes is second oboist with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra and currently performs regularly with the Texarkana and Marshall Symphonies. As an active freelance musician he performs with many different orchestras and other ensembles across the state of Texas. He is the current oboe professor at Texas Wesleyan and he maintains a small private studio in the Fort Worth area where his students have gone on to study at universities such as Oberlin, TCU, and SMU

CLARINET: Grace Frarey

Grace Frarey is a dedicated musician and educator based in Denton, Texas. She is the woodwind instructor for the Little Elm and Northwest school districts and enjoys teaching using methods that she learned from studying with Dr. Christopher Azzara.

Originally from Rochester, New York Grace Frarey holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Applied Jazz Saxophone and Music Teaching and Learning from the Eastman School of Music. Grace learned the nuances of the flute and clarinet while studying with renowned woodwind specialist Charles Pillow.

Grace has performed with notable artists and bands including Terri Lynn Carrington, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Mesquite Symphony Orchestra, Jack Courtright Big Band, Basically Basie Big Band, Sundance Square Big Band, IfCM Collective and Sol Kitchen.

SAXOPHONE: Tanner Deters

Tanner Deters is a DFW based jazz saxophonist and educator who draws on a multitude of musical influences to round out his artistry. Tanner brings over 10 years of saxophone experience to his performances and his students; as a performer he raps and plays saxophone, and as an educator he is passionate about guiding students to follow their own musical curiosities.During his time at the University of North Texas Tanner was a member of the Two O’Clock Lab Band. Outside of academia, he is the regular lead alto in Buddy’s Big Band, a big band performing monthly in Ft. Worth. He also plays saxophone and raps in the group Luna Sol, a Dallas based hip-hop/fusion group. Tanner has experience as a Saxophone Teaching Fellow at UNT, and he teaches jazz saxophone lessons at the beginner, the intermediate, and the collegiate level. In addition to lessons, Tanner also conducted and directed the Six O’Clock Lab Band, one of the 8 big bands at UNT. As a DFW area high school graduate, he has first-hand experience in the various TMEA activities that his students participate in, including the All-region/All-state and solo and ensemble processes. Tanner graduated from Southlake Carroll Senior High School in 2014. He proceeded to earn his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas in 2018. Tanner graduated with a Master of Music in Jazz Performance at the University of North Texas studying under Brad Leali in Spring 2020.

TRUMPET: Cody Saucier

Cody Saucier is a trumpet player and music educator based in Denton, Texas. Originally from Florida, Saucier moved to Denton to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas’ esteemed jazz program. Since 2017, he has been performing with a multitude of professional groups including wedding bands, big bands, combos, pit orchestras, and church groups. While at UNT, Saucier studied privately under trumpet professor Rodney Booth and played in various jazz ensembles including the Six, Five, Four, and Two O’Clock Lab Bands as well as the UNT Zebras, a contemporary music ensemble. He also played in many jazz combos including the Banter, Harvest, Benny’s, and Steve’s combos. As a music educator, he is building and maintaining private lesson studios in both Carrollton-Farmers Branch and Northwest Independent School Districts. Saucier has professional memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association and the Jazz Education Network. In his free time Saucier enjoys finding great coffee shops, going on relaxing car rides, and taking his dog Max out for walks.

FRENCH HORN: Addison McGarrity

Addison McGarity Is a French Horn player and private lesson teacher living in Justin, Texas. Addison has served multiple school districts including Duncanville, Mansfield, Arlington, Ennis, and more across the DFW area with private lessons and horn masterclasses at all levels. He maintains a lesson studio, McGarity Music, where his students have auditioned into the all-region bands and received high marks at their solo and ensemble competitions. As a dedicated teacher, Addison personalizes his lessons and meets students where they are. His compassionate but fair nature allows students to feel like they have agency in their musical and educational development. Addison graduated with his Bachelor’s of Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University, where he performed in the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Lumberjack Marching Band. Addison also performed with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps. He is currently performing with the Mansfield Wind Symphony as well as other churches and classical ensembles in the Ft. Worth area.

TROMBONE: Jack Courtright

Originally from Burnsville, MN, trombonist Jack Courtright holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of North Texas. Jack has been the winner of the International Trombone Festival’s JJ Johnson and Carl Fontana competitions, the American Trombone Workshop’s National Solo Jazz Trombone Competition, and the UNT/BAC International Jazz Trombone Competition. Under Jack’s direction, UNT’s trombone ensemble, the U-Tubes were the winners of the 2021 Kai Winding International Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition. An avid composer and arranger, Jack’s works for big band and trombone ensemble are performed by high school, collegiate and professional groups across the U.S.

TUBA/EUPHONIUM: Jonathan Watkins

Dr. Jonathan Watkins is currently Adjunct Instructor of Low Brass at Tarrant County College, where he teaches trombone, euphonium, and tuba. As a clinician and performer, Dr. Watkins has given recitals and masterclasses at Florida State University, Valdosta State University, University of Wisconsin at Platteville, and the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley.

Dr. Watkins’s work as a performer includes performing at the International Tuba-Euphonium Conference, Southeast Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference, and Midwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference, Tarleton State University, and the Texas Music Educator Association annual conference with the New Acoustic Metal Experiment, a tuba-euphonium ensemble specializing in the genre of metal music. He has also performed with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, Dallas Civic Winds, the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra, and maintains an active performance schedule as chamber musician and soloist across several genres on tuba, euphonium and trombone.

Dr. Watkins earned his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of North Texas, as well as Bachelors and Masters degrees from Florida State University in Euphonium Performance. Dr. Jonathan Watkins has studied with David Childs, Brian Bowman, Paul Ebbers, Carlyle Weber, and is a Willson Artist.

TUBA/EUPHONIUM: Garrett Alford

Garrett Alford is a former Wildcat Band and VR Eaton Band alumni, having learned the euphonium under the direction of Mr. Waterman and Mr. Hilley and marching under the direction of Mr. Elder. He has a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, and has been providing private lessons with NISD for 2 years. Several of his students have placed in the All-District and All-Region bands in Texas.

PERCUSSION: Caden Cook

Caden Cook is a passionate educator, accomplished percussionist, and aspiring legal professional based in Fort Worth, Texas. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Caden performed for the top Percussion and Jazz Ensembles. He earned dual degrees in Political Science and Jazz Studies, graduating cum laude. Caden currently teaches percussion at Truett Wilson Middle School in Northwest ISD, where he blends his love of music and mentorship. As an Eagle Scout and percussionist with multiple ensemble accolades, Caden brings leadership, creativity, and dedication to every endeavor.

PERCUSSION: James Merritt

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