The best teachers are good learners. My goal in the UT Martin low brass studio is to produce both teachers and learners. I tailor my instruction to meet each student's needs and goals within the music world. Beyond merely producing good trombone, euphonium, and tuba players, my goal is to produce musicians. I teach and model solid technique on the instruments, but more than just learning the notes, dynamics, and rhythms, I focus on "telling a story" and using the instrument to communicate emotions and feelings.

My students need good models. Therefore, I keep a visible presence in the community as a performer. I am a member of the Jackson Symphony. I schedule numerous campus performances, and I perform regularly in regional churches. I do all my practicing in my studio because I strongly believe that students need to see and hear me going through the learning process from practicing to performance, from beginning to end. I am also careful to model good, well-rounded pedagogy in lessons. This is not only for the betterment of the student's current performance, but also for their future use as teachers. My teaching does not just cover repertoire and pedagogy appropriate to the college level, but it also exposes students to solid pedagogy and repertoire on elementary, junior high, and high school levels.

I am constantly looking for opportunities to expand my horizons outside the music building. I have attended numerous classes at UT Martin's Instructional Technology Center. I have also participated in the Academic Book Club and attended Talking About Teaching sessions. In the summer of 2004, I attended Voice Lessons, UT Martin's faculty writing workshop and the Instructional Technology Center's technology workshop.

As long as it enhances the learning process and doesn't become a diversion, I am a proponent of technology in the applied studio. I use MIDI files, Smart Music, and digital recording software. Although these tools are no substitute for a live accompanist, their use saves valuable rehearsal time with the accompanist, and results in more confident and polished performances.

My goal in grading private lessons is to be as objective as possible. Requirements are always spelled out up front. The lesson environment is a casual one, but students can always count on me for an honest and accurate appraisal of their abilities, progress, and future success. I do my students a great disservice if they graduate as good musicians, teachers, and learners, but have no connection beyond themselves to the wider world of music. My applied students write reviews of journal and online articles. I also want them to have "big ears," so they write reviews of low brass recordings as part of their private lesson grade.

I am passionate about music, teaching, and learning. Teaching on the college level gives me the opportunity to earn a living while exploring the intersection of these three passions. As a teacher, I feel the responsibility to expose my students to a certain objective body of knowledge and skill in the craft. On the other hand, I feel it is my greater responsibility to help each student develop the skills he or she will need to be a lifetime learner.