About Zach
Zach offers online lessons in clarinet, music theory (both beginner-intermediate and advanced levels), ear training, RCM exams, and solfege. With extensive education from prestigious institutions like the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music, Zach brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching. His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical listening and thinking skills, fostering autonomy in students' learning processes. Book an interview now.
BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH ZACH NOW
As a teacher, my goal is to pass on knowledge and encourage students to study. More specifically, as a musicologist, I introduce students to a typical repertoire of musical works and then ask them to describe their reactions to the music. This approach not only introduces students to the repertoire but also teaches them autonomous critical listening and thinking skills. To this purpose, I am looking for a balance between teaching and asking students to make discoveries for themselves. In the belief excellent teaching is dependent on intellectual exchange, I urge students to engage with the issue at hand, with me, with each other. My method of student assessment reflects my two objectives. First, the student is required to master basic information by demonstrating familiarity with the composers, works, terms, and concepts studied in the clarinet work. Second, students are given the opportunity to reflect on the information through daily practice, performance, and lessons that emphasize the critical thinking and listening skill learned during the semester. Despite the fact that my expectations are high, I support student after lesson by providing extra lesson hours, review sessions, and preparing orchestra jobs and such working opportunities, in order to help the students become more prepared for a professional career after they graduate. I believe in a flexible teaching style that adapts to the particular setting of each lesson. While giving a large lecture or a small in-person class, I am mindful of the diverse experiences and temperaments of the students in order to help them develop their strengths while improving their weaknesses. Each student can increase his/her capacity to listen and understand a piece of music regardless of background. Throughout lectures, discussions, and assignments, I demonstrate that music responds to a variety of modes of inquiry, including analytical, hermeneutical, cultural, and historical inquiry. As a result, students are equipped to explore the possibilities of each perspective and are encouraged to look beyond their own experience in order to broaden their playing skills. As a result, I increased a student’s ability to understand, critically-thinking, listening, and practice music with a fresh sense of its aesthetic and humanistic aspects.
Name: Zach (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 30's
Gender: male
I have attended the following schools earning the following degrees: - University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music - Doctor of Musical Arts - New England Conservatory of Music - Master of Music - New England Conservatory of Music - Bachelor of Music - University of North Carolina School of the Arts - High School Diploma My principal teachers included: Richard Stoltzman (Clarinet Soloist, two-time Grammy Award winner) Bill Hudgins (Principal Clarinetist of Boston Symphony Orchestra) Thomas Martin (Associate Principal Clarinetist of Boston Symphony Orchestra) Alexander Fiterstein (Clarinet Soloist, winner of the Carl Nielsen International Competition) My working experience included: Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Associate Principal (2018-2021) Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Associate member (Current) Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Associate Principal (Current) National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra, Clarinet Player (Current)
Graduate Incentive Award, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music 2017-2022 NEC Merit Award & NEC Scholarship, New England Conservatory of Music 2011-2017 Dean’s List, New England Conservatory of Music 2011-2012 The winner of Raleigh Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition 2010 The first prize of Piedmont Winston Symphony Concerto Competition 2010 The first prize of Asia Pacific Bands Association Instruments Competition 2010
Music Theory, Clarinet ABRSM exam RCM exam
Cantonese
English
Mandarin
Taiwanese
Rates and Studio Policies
Registration Fee: $25.00 (One-time lifetime registration fee may be used by all family members)
Rates for instruction:
30 minute private lesson: $39.00
45 minute private lesson: $49.00
60 minute private lesson: $59.00
Travel charge: additional $15.00 per visit (for lessons in a client's home as opposed to my studio)
1. Cancellation Policy
Lessons not cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours notice are billable to the client and payable to the teacher. This does not of course apply to travel fees unless the notice is effectively given at the door and the teacher has travelled to the location.
2. Cessation (quitting) Policy
A client must provide a 2 lesson notice period to stop lessons. So a weekly student needs to give 2 weeks of notice, a biweekly student works out to 3 weeks notice and a twice weekly student works out to a week of notice.
3. Illness Policy
Lessons cancelled due to illness or extraordinary circumstances with less than 24 hours notice remain billable to the client and payable to the teacher.
BAH teachers are encouraged to offer a make-up lesson at a future date in the interest of client relations and general goodwill. This only makes sense as teaching a student with the flu for example, will ruin the rest of your week's employment.
No more than 2 lessons may be made up due to illness within a 60 day period.
4. Rescheduling Policy
Any lesson can be cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours notice.
Summer Vacation and Extended Absence Policy
Clients may schedule longer absences for trips etc. 24 hours notice is required.
It is normal and typical for students and about 20% of our teachers to schedule a break in the summer. We do not enforce a notice period (see cessation of lessons) at the end of a long summer break.
5. Evaluation Period
There are no free trial lessons with Beethoven at Home but we do offer a 2 lesson evaluation period where it is easy to try out a teacher. There are no free lessons during the evaluation period and clients may choose to discontinue the lessons at any time by providing the required 24 hours notice. After the student's 3rd lesson the required 2 lesson notice period will apply (see cessation of lessons above).
Online lessons
Zach can provide online instruction. While other platforms are possible BAH strongly recommends the use of the Zoom video conferencing platform as it is optimized for music lessons and audio quality.