I started teaching privately again. It’s been, gosh, at least 12 years since I’ve taught private horn lessons. Well…except for one student who came to my home studio for a while, which was really nice! I stopped because I burned out. I was touring/on the road off and on between Phantom of the Opera and then Star Wars in Concert. I felt bad leaving for a month or so at a time. Students would continually come into lessons unprepared and I just didn’t know HOW to work with that and honestly, I started to feel like my time would be better spent on my own practice. So I stopped and that was absolutely the best decision at that time. I didn’t want to be the reason some aspiring horn player quit and a jaded teacher can definitely do more harm than good.

Flash forward to last spring when I got a call from a colleague asking if I would consider coming out to the College of DuPage as the new Adjunct Horn Instructor. I thought long and hard and decided with my kids finally in a school where they are thriving (and therefore I don’t have to be prepared to fight a battle on the daily) and having grown myself over the 13 year hiatus…it might be the right time to come back to it.

I started officially teaching again last fall (2025) and it’s been fantastic. I can say my approach has been completely different this time around. And I can absolutely tell the difference. Firstly, private teaching is not my primary or main line of income, and because of this I know have the freedom to be honest with students in a more nurturing way. I am there solely to help them get better, not to make sure my mortgage is paid. I know that sounds harsh but often young musicians coming out of school feel the pressure to have a large studio, especially if teaching is their main source of income. You can feel stuck, trying to keep students happy and wanting to continue with their private instruction because at the end of the day you need the paycheck. Ultimately this doesn’t serve the student OR the teacher. As a teacher you can start to check out, maybe you lower your standards and expectations because you know with some students any push back they may decide to quit. But when we feel this way we teach “safe” and growth isn’t as expansive in a “safe” environment.

As I started teaching again this fall I was surprised to discover JOY in private instruction. A joy I haven’t honestly ever experienced in teaching and I was truly shocked to be so happy back in the studio. I attribute it to to many things…of course being older and watching really great constructive criticism on shows like Kids Baking Challenge. Really. Go watch those episodes and just watch how Duff doesn’t “dumb down” his reviews of the kid’s makes but he also is very honest about things that need to improve and HOW he helps them to understand that information. I also don’t discount having learned much by having my OWN children. Often to blunt my first go around as an instructor I’ve learned by rearing my own kids on the daily that I need to assess each student individually and really meet them where they are. My lesson pace is much slower than before. Previously I would be afraid to spend time wood shedding measures in lessons, I was afraid kids would be upset and bored and would want to quit…which brings me to the biggest factor…I’m am now unhindered by the fact that this is my main source of income and that allows me to be more supportive of students and really look at whats best for their growth over time…not just some superficial interest. I enjoy thinking of different ways to approach often the same problems in very different set ups. Like a real world brain game. And what worked for one student may not work for another. I find joy in the small victories…like when a student says “hey I was thinking…”. YES!!! Please tell me what you’re thinking? What are YOU’RE thoughts on this? I love it.

When I was teaching years ago I had thoughts of writing my own method book. This second time around I realize, that for me at least, there are enough method books out there…but I def have been having new epiphanies about music, and horn, and teaching…and I hope to share those thoughts as this new journey progresses.