Private Lessons

PROFESSIONAL PRIVATE LESSON TEACHERS             

One of the cornerstones to the success of the Plank Junior High Band is private lessons.  The effectiveness of our professional private lesson staff, and the commitment our students make to taking private lessons, has resulted in consistent, quality performances year after year.  

Flute                         Phone Numbers                       Email 

Annie D'Amico                                    630-333-8951                                ExpressiveFluteStudio@gmail.com

​Shawn Maxwell                                   773-842-7052                               shawn@shawnmaxwell.com 

​ 

Oboe

Emily Fagan                                                                                                        emilyfaganoboe@gmail.com 

Bassoon

Dan D'Andrea 630-322-9187 scsdpd@aol.com

Theresa Brooks                                630-234-7951                           Tree.L.Brooks@gmail.com                 

Clarinet/(Bass Clarinets)

​Shawn Maxwell                                   773-842-7052                               shawn@shawnmaxwell.com 

Jessica Corry                                                                                                  jcorry@sd308.org

Saxophone

​Shawn Maxwell                                   773-842-7052                               shawn@shawnmaxwell.com                

Joseph Duffy                                                                                                      joeduffy56@gmail.com

Cornet/Trumpet

Jessica Runyon 630-330-0728 jessicarunyon26@gmail.com 

Sean O'Donnell                                                                                               trumpet21@gmail.com 

Horn

Catherine Ashley                              630-531-0227                                CatherineAshley316@yahoo.co

Debra Miller                                      630-697-5034                               debramillermusician@gmail.com                      

Trombone/Baritone

Ryan Christianson                         701-213-5354                                   ryan-d-christianson@live.com

Ryan Miller                                        630-926-2736                                ryanmillermusician@gmail.com                                                       

Baritone/Tuba

Ryan Miller                                        630-926-2736                                ryanmillermusician@gmail.com

Percussion

Aaron Spevak aaronspevak@gmail.com

LESSON HANDBOOK

Private lessons are highly encouraged, and many students in the Plank Band currently study with a private teacher.  These students tend to perform at a higher level, and have a greater appreciation and enjoyment of the music making process.  We have a select list of qualified professional musicians approved by the district to teach at Oswego schools or in their homes.  

Students will meet with the teacher for 1/2 hour each week and work on band music, solo music, technique development, tone development, theory, etc.  

Private lessons are for everyone!  If your student excels, private lessons will help keep them challenged and interested in making music.  If your student is struggling, private lessons will help them better understand and perform musical concepts, as well as help eliminate frustration.  Students will receive individual attention and instruction specific to their needs.

 Why should we offer our student private lessons if they are already in a band class at school?

​Learning to play a musical instrument can be more of a daunting task than a child (or parent) may expect. Fingers, tongue, breathing, posture, note reading, and counting all come into play with this foreign object put into a child’s hands!

1. Working with a private teacher can help a student keep up with peers in the group setting. Every child learns at a different pace. Because of the many aspects of performing an instrument, children will progress differently. For instance, a child may have no trouble at all properly placing his/her hands on the instrument and quickly becoming dexterous, but may find it impossible to form the proper embouchure (position of the mouth on the instrument’s mouthpiece). There are many subtleties to embouchure formation, and if a student doesn’t get help from a private instructor, the wrong embouchure could become a road block to other facets of playing (such as note range) in the near future.

2. Private lessons help to minimize frustration. I believe the less frustration the  better when it comes to learning; who doesn’t? Though frustration can create  determination in some people, it can discourage others. It’s sad to see a child  give up learning an instrument in the early stages when all was needed was a  little personal attention. Every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy and not  be frustrated with making music.

3. Private lessons set up the child for  success. With a private instructor, a child refines more quickly the fundamentals of playing. A solid foundation is built, and the child can keep learning, playing and succeeding. Succeeding is fun! The young musician builds confidence, and doesn’t give up.

4. The child learns how to practice. A young musician needs to learn HOW to practice. I often spend more time with a student on practice skills than anything else in a lesson; and not only with beginners, but advanced students as well. A student spends more time weekly alone in a practice room (or at home) with the instrument than he/she does with a private instructor each week, so that time needs to be well spent. By sending the student home weekly with the proper practice skills, the private instructor can help the student get the most out of practice time alone. Also, the student will not dread practice time, because he/she will have control over it and confidently expect results.

5. It is easier to stay motivated with the help of a private instructor. I find this benefit most applicable to students who have been performing more than a few years. Once out of the beginner stage of playing, a music student may not know what to do next. A private instructor is knowledgeable about different music literature and styles and can help the student discover what new music to learn, what goal to pursue next. The instructor can direct a student to certain recordings, because listening is so vital to becoming a good and motivated performer. Sometimes all a student needs in order to remain stimulated is someone to report to on a regular basis. It is always easier to work for something when you know someone is counting on you and  that you’re accountable to someone – your teacher.

Private lessons are  for anyone, not just music-career bound musicians. A private instructor can

maximize a young musician’s opportunity for musical success and fun.

How do I begin lessons?

 1. Call or email a private teacher. 

2. Schedule a time for your lesson.

 3. Take a lesson-learn a lot and have FUN!

 Some teachers teach at Plank during the school day, and students are encouraged to take a lesson during band class, lunch(students will still eat), or during a study hall.  Some teachers teach in the afternoon or evenings at one of the high schools or in their home music studio. 

LESSON EXPECTATIONS

The teacher will...

 1. Encourage and teach in a positive style. 

2. Answer students’ questions. 

3. Help students with band music/quizzes/tests, and then work on lesson music. 

4. Provide instruction tailored to each students’ needs. 

5. Arrive on time and teach for 30 full minutes.

6. Communicate absences with the student and parent directly. 

7. Reimburse student for missed lesson or schedule a make-up lesson. 

The student will…

1. Prepare for lessons.

2. Ask questions and respond when you are asked a question. 

3. Bring band music and lesson music to each lesson. 

4. Pay private teacher as stated in the payment plan by private teacher. 

5. Communicate absences directly with private teacher before the day of the lesson.  It is not Mrs.  Shields' responsibility to let private teachers know if you are absent or on a field trip.