Hi! I’m Miss Val.
I play and teach every instrument (listed below), and I’m here to help you with all of your musical goals.
I can help you get started playing music today or give your tired old practice a powerful jumpstart!
(Disclaimer: DO NOT use jumper cables on your keyboard. This is just a metaphor.)
Education
I graduated cum laude from the University of Delaware in 2008 with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education K-12 where I was privileged to be part of the first generation of teachers equipped with Music Learning Theory (MLT). In short, MLT is based on the science of how humans learn music, not how it’s traditionally been taught. I was a music teacher at an Arizona charter school briefly before transitioning to private instruction. I have been playing and teaching for over 30 years.
Early Childhood
When I was a young child and even in utero, my mother sang in a world champion Sweet Adelines womens’ chorus. I would often attend her long rehearsals, sing along with the four part harmony, and imitate their choreography. Having a piano in my house was crucial to my musical development even though my parents never afforded me private lessons.
Elementary School
While I always enjoyed music class and singing and dancing in the 2nd grade play, it was in fourth grade that I begun learning an instrument formally. It was called the flutophone, basically a recorder, and I loved it! I wrote the letters in crayon in the book, memorized the music for the performance, and practiced it over and over again.
It was only years later that I realized why I resorted to writing the letters of the notes under the music notion instead of reading… a confusing illustration at the beginning of the book was part of the problem. Do you see how compared to the note reading chart to the left, the image spells “F A C E” UPSIDE DOWN?!? If only I had Miss Val’s Music Magic then!
Luckily, when I started learning clarinet the next year in band, I learned how to read the music correctly, but not every music student frustrated with reading gets a second chance!
Middle School
In middle school, I continued excelling at the clarinet and even had the opportunity to trade instruments with my friends in the 8th grade. I learned the basics on the flute, trumpet, and saxophone that year. I also sang in the school talent show and was approached by the chorus teacher afterwards begging me to join chorus and choir (which I thoroughly enjoyed). We even sang in Latin, which I was also taking classes in. Thank you, Dr. Sezer!
High School
By high school, I was a multi-instrumentalist, playing tenor sax in the jazz band, clarinet and later mellophone, trombone, and bass drum in the marching band, oboe in the concert band, and several instruments in the pit orchestra for the school musicals. It was all so much fun, and I am so grateful for all this experience!
If that wasn’t enough, my senior year the school started a strings program in which I learned the viola and how to read the rare alto clef. I also took my 2nd music theory course (I had taken my first as part of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth program the summer after I turned 16). My high school career ended with me receiving a scholarship from the school’s music boosters association.
My high school band director, Patrick Dalton, was a huge supporter and inspiration of my musical career. He took the entire band to see BLAST! on Broadway, wrote music for us to premier, and let me borrow 4 or more school instruments at one time. I still have a flute and a trombone that he gave me from his personal collection. Thank you Mr. Dalton!!
College
My undergraduate career at the University of Delaware was equally epic! I was the Service Learning Scholar for Project M.U.S.I.C. (Music Uniting Students, Inspiring Communities). I expanded their program to include 4 types of ensembles that conducted programs for 4 grades of the school and incorporated Music Learning Theory. (instead of just one ensemble, one grade). We even had a student composer come up with all of the music the ensembles played for the elementary school kids. This was all in collaboration with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, who also made appearances at the school and invited the students to their full performance in the hall.
As a music major, I had 10 classes per semester. I won’t go into all that I learned and experienced, but I am extremely grateful for my education and my professors!
Instruments List
Here’s a list of the most common musical instruments that I play and teach:
Winds:
Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Saxophones, Bassoon, Recorders, Digeridoo, Harmonica
Brass:
Trumpet, French Horn, Mellophone, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba
Strings:
Violin, Viola, Cello, Doublebass (upright Bass)
Percussion:
Piano, Keyboard, Guitars, Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Banjo, Dulcimer, Lap Steel, Snare Drum, Steel Drums, Hand Percussion (Djembe, Congas, Bongos, etc.), Drum Set, Mallet Percussion (marimba, vibes, xylophone, bell kit, etc.)
If your instrument is so rare that it is not on my list, I am confident that I can help you, too! Rare instruments are one of my specialties.
Oboe was my major instrument in college. I played oboe and English horn for my senior degree recital, and can make and maintain oboe and other double reeds with my special reed knives and tools.
Unfortunately, there is not much of a demand for oboe teachers. Thankfully, I already learned how to play most of the other instruments prior to even attending college!
Piano and guitar are by far the most common requests I get from interested students, but flute, clarinet, saxophone, and violin are also very popular. Surprisingly to some people percussionists (drummers) need the most practice to hone their skills.
What’s My Favorite?
Many people ask me which is my favorite when they hear I play so many different instruments. I really do enjoy them all, but if I’m asked to play in a random jam, I often choose the trombone (especially if there is marching involved).
Having children of my own has most definitely helped me learn how to help my students, and I am so grateful for my family!
Miss Val's Music Magic 