About Me
My Education
I received my bachelor's degree in music performance from UCLA in 2008, and earned my music teaching credential from CSULB in 2019.
I also attended Culinary School at Long Beach CIty College, and
will start a Masters degree program this summer with American Band College in Ashland, OR.
My Professional Experience
I have had the good fortune to travel and perform in 46 countries with hip-hop legends Nas and Lauryn Hill, the broadway magic show The Illusionists, and Man in the Mirror, a Michael Jackson tribute show, at notable venues such as the Sydney Opera House, London’s 02 Arena, and Radio City Music Hall. I also taught as the music director at Long Beach Jordan High School.
A complete list of my work can be found here.
My Teaching Philosophy
In my opinion, the ultimate experience for a creative individual is to be completely and utterly in the moment, free of doubt or reservation. As someone who has felt such a state of transcendence through music, my goal as an educator is to illuminate and guide this experience to future generations. Thus, my teaching philosophy is to empower my students to achieve creative fulfillment, to service their identity, and to be able to collaborate flexibly in the extensive scope of music throughout their lifetime. Full statement/video here.
As an educator
Sample Lesson Plan
Additional Sample Matrials
Sample Lesson Plan
Lesson plan designed to teach advancing high school jazz musicians about improvising with clarity, using Stan Getz's solo on the 1956 Verve recording of Antonio Carlos Jobim's Girl From Ipanema
Sample Assessments
Additional Sample Matrials
Sample Lesson Plan
Assessment for a rhythmic composition exercise with Rogers Middle School's Advanced band, displaying understanding of syncopation and rhythmic-articulation equivalents.
Additional Sample Matrials
Additional Sample Matrials
Additional Sample Matrials
Sample lesson plans, unit plans, mind maps, for education purposes.