An Online Studio and the Path Ahead

Opportunities can fall in your lap. Sometimes, the break you need finds you before you know its necessity. In my experience, this has often been the exception and very far from the rule. As musicians (and we are not taught this enough in school), we must not only dedicate countless hours to our craft but also be our own marketers, fundraisers, and content creators. Our reputations are built on sales, whether it’s our playing abilities, our minds, or a product we develop to fill a microscopic gap in a saturated market.

So, what am I getting at? As an individual who left teaching in higher education to obtain a terminal degree to return to higher education, I’m currently at an impasse. There are no jobs left for me to apply for in the fall. I applied for 12 or 13 jobs over the last six months and have been left nowhere to be this next academic year. Despite some disappointment around that fact, I won’t lament where I find myself. I knew how competitive this market was when I left to go back to school three years ago, and as I sit here, I still believe wholeheartedly I have the tools necessary to do an incredible job when I earn that chance.

Perhaps, in this case, a more significant opportunity has presented itself. Last December, my wife and I learned that we were expecting. While the timing was not perfect, we couldn’t have been happier. Higher education often leads you to move where the job is, and away from where you currently call home. We struggled with the uncertainty, stress, and unrealistic timelines around what could happen upon graduation but were prepared to make the necessary moves should an opportunity present itself. Out of all the challenges this year, one thing is for sure: we look forward to welcoming our first baby into the world here in Boston this August, a girl.

Reflecting on everything, had I been committed to organizing a move and starting a college job, my focus and attention would not have been on my wife's needs throughout her pregnancy and the baby. For those who don’t know, I thrive on living a highly scheduled life. I enjoy having a routine and a to-do list for the day to ensure I am meeting the goals and expectations I set for myself. My wife often makes fun of this as the day-to-day schedule never really pans out exactly how I draw it up. It reminds me of the saying, “When you make plans, God laughs,” as we truly never know what He has in store for us, and we can only pray, hope, and work through things as they come.

This brings me back to what I will do for this academic school year: focus on my personal growth with my family and ensure that I am the best parent, husband, family member, and friend I can be. Although it may seem like a “gap year” for me, I have no intention of being anything short of as productive as I can and will continue to grow professionally. I am committed to cultivating a virtual (and in-person as possible) studio of aspiring high school trombone students. This will sharpen my teaching abilities throughout the year and hopefully benefit aspiring high school trombonists from wherever they may be, literally and figuratively. I have been so entrenched in the pursuit of excellence for the last 15 years that I have zero doubt I have much to offer and can help nearly any player with serious intent toward their goals.

If you know of any students who might benefit from a conversation with me, you can direct them here. Testimonials of my previous students can be found here, and as always, I’ll keep my events updated on this page. 

I’m looking forward to an exciting year ahead, and I hope you, reading this, have a great final stretch of the summer!