Private Lessons
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE to provide an amazing opportunity for our young musicians to enrich their musical experience. Due to many factors, a group band class is limited in pace and in the amount of material covered. Since private instruction is tailored to the individual student’s needs, a student can be guided beyond these limitations. Small problems can be recognized and corrected. Fundamental concepts are reviewed and reinforced. Students who are ready to move beyond the pace of the class are guided by a knowledgeable professional. In short, private lessons open the door to a world of possibilities!
The private lesson program is designed to further our students' music education through one-on-one, twenty five minute lessons. We are proud to have some of the state's finest and most talented musicians as a part of our private staff. In many instances, they offer lessons before/after school, during your child's band class, and/or over extended holiday breaks. We highly encourage our students to participate in this program!
The private lesson rate for the 2020-2021 school year is $20 per lesson. Contact a band director for further information.
Private Lesson Instructor Bios and Contact Information:
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msf.flute@gmail.com Flute
Education
Performance Experience
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Steven Fitts bugleboy218@mac.com Trumpet
Education
Performance Experience Steven Fitts is currently in his 42nd year as a trumpet performing artist and private teacher. He recently retired (after 30 years) from the widely-acclaimed Dallas Winds and was the Principal Trumpet in their 2007 release of a Grammy-nominated CD, “A Child’s Garden of Dreams.” The Dallas Winds also received two Grammy nominations from the 2018 release of John Williams’ “At the Movies.” Mr. Fitts is in demand as a soloist for special occasions and is considered by many to be their “first call” for weddings. He has an extensive history of teaching Texas All-State players, current band directors, and is the proud former teacher of the long-time Ceremonial Bugler for the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Fitts enjoys a strong bond with all of his students and their families, using hard work and a great deal of humor.
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jacobadamgarcia@gmail.com Percussion
Education
Performance Experience |
Shaun Gladney shaungladneymusic@gmail.com Percussion
Education
Performance Experience Over the years, Shaun has been fortunate to have many opportunities to share his talents and continue learning. He has received multiple awards from the University of Missouri New Music Initiative, performed as a member of the 2009 Macy’s Great American Marching Band and performed as a front ensemble member of Gateway Indoor in 2015. Shaun has composed, arranged and designed for percussion, marching band and contemporary chamber ensembles.
Currently, Shaun is the Staff Arranger and Sound Designer for Battle High School. He is also a Percussion Instructor for Plano East Sr. High and Williams High School (Plano, TX). Shaun maintains freelance jobs as an arranger and sound designer for marching bands throughout the U.S.
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juliesaxjones@gmail.com Saxophone
Education
Performance Experience She has had many students recognized for All State Band, All State Jazz, National and local Concerto Competition finalists, and Outstanding Soloist at both UIL Region and State Solo and Ensemble Contests, where she accompanies her own students on piano. Several of her students have gone on to further their music education in colleges, and have received work in internationally esteemed organizations such as the West Point Jazz Band, and NASA. Mrs Jones currently resides in Murphy with her husband Rob who is a retired band director/music educator, and her son Robert who is currently in college. |
De'Marcus Walker demarcusw@gmail.com Tuba and Euphonium
Education
Performance Experience |
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planoboneplayer@yahoo.com Trombone
Education
Performance Experience James Wallace started teaching privately in 1992 for various high schools and middle schools in the North Dallas area. After relocating to Plano in 1995, he began teaching for the Plano Independent School District as a contract music teacher primarily in the Plano East Cluster. Since moving to the area, many of Mr. Wallace’s students have been tremendously successful at the local, regional, state, national, and international levels. He consistently helps students earn chairs in the All-Region bands, jazz bands, and orchestras. Since 2000, Mr. Wallace has had at least one student each year be selected for the Texas All-State Band, Orchestra, or Jazz Band. A few of his students have participated in national and international solo competitions including the Eastern Trombone Workshop National Solo Competition, the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival, and the International Trombone Association’s Gilberto Gagliardi and George Roberts solo competitions for students 18 and younger. Some of Mr. Wallace’s students have continued their musical studies at several colleges and conservatories including Northwestern, Julliard, Eastman, Oberlin, SMU, TCU, UNT, SFA, Baylor, UT in Austin, UT in Arlington, Boston University, and Colburn University. A handful of his former students now hold positions in professional orchestras, military bands, and public schools. |
Stuart Womble intrubul@hotmail.com French Horn
Education
Performance Experience As a performer Mr. Womble is a member of the orchestras of Las Colinas, Garland, and Arlington and has also performed with the Dallas Winds, the Irving Symphony, and the Richardson Symphony. Prior to moving to Texas, he had played with many orchestras in the Southeast. These would include the Jacksonville (FL) Symphony, Charleston (SC) Symphony and Sarasota (FL) Orchestra. He has performed with artists throughout the classical, pops and jazz world, including Joshua Bell, Andre Watts, Marcus Roberts, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and even Ben Folds and Bobby McFerrin. He has also been privileged to perform under the batons of some of those world's most respected conductors in both the orchestra and band world, including Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Sir Andrew Davis, Roberto Abbado, Timothy Rehnish, Col. John Bourgeois, Ray Cramer, Paula Crider, Harry Begian, and many others.
As a teacher, he has had dozens of Texas All State students, as well as hundreds of All Region students in middle and high school. He has had several students accepted into some of best horn studios in the country including Northwestern University, Southern Methodist University, and Indiana University. He has also had many students go on to study music education and performance at schools like Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and many others.
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kevinrwest11@gmail.com Percussion
Education
Performance Experience Kevin West began playing drums at age 9, and has over a decade of experience teaching private lessons and both high school and collegiate marching percussion sections. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he taught private lessons and marching percussion sections throughout the state of Mississippi. He also played snare drum with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps and placed third in the PASIC college marimba competition. During the summer of 2016, Kevin worked with the Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps as a snare drum instructor. In the fall, he received a graduate assistantship at Texas A&M—Commerce, where he taught private lessons, percussion ensemble, and marching percussion until 2018. He currently lives in Dallas and is an active freelance musician throughout DFW. |
Jon Lee jondlee@aol.com Percussion
Education
Performance Experience Jon D. Lee is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Percussion at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University and is the Director of the Meadows Percussion Ensemble. He is an active performer, educator, clinician, and adjudicator. He has performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Wind Symphony, Plano Symphony Orchestra, East Texas Symphony, Richardson Symphony Orchestra, Lewisville Lake Symphony Orchestra, Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, Lawton Philharmonic, The Voices of Change, Casa Manana, Theatre 3 and many others. He was the Principal Timpanist of the Garland Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Arlington, and the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestras. At SMU, Lee also teaches percussion techniques and is the drumline instructor-arranger for the SMU Mustang Band. In addition to his responsibilities at Meadows, Lee maintains a private studio of nearly fifty percussion students in Plano and surrounding areas. His students have excelled at all levels and have been accepted into the finest music schools in the world, including the Meadows School of the Arts, University of North Texas, New England Conservatory, and the Juilliard School of Music. Lee has been on the faculty of the University of Texas at Arlington, the Stephen F. Austin Percussion Symposium, Marimba Madness, and the Leigh Howard Stevens Pre-College Marimba Seminar. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society and the Texas Music Educators Association.
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arakawamusic@gmail.com Flute
Education
Performance Experience Kerri Arakawa is an active performer, educator, and conductor. She is a Flute teacher in Plano ISD, works with the Greater North Texas Youth Orchestra, and maintains a private studio. Mrs. Arakawa is the founder and President of the Orange County Flute Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing performance opportunities and promoting the education of flute players in Orange County, CA. Under her leadership, she has conducted OCFA Flute Ensemble performances throughout Southern California and hosted numerous masterclasses and clinics. |
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