Teaching

Free trial lessons for new students!

My goal is to help every student cultivate independence and confidence in themselves through studying music in fun and thought-provoking lessons.

Teaching Credentials

• Teaching privately since 2018

• Helped 20+ clarinet students audition into North Carolina honors ensembles statewide

• B.A. Music awarded by UNC Chapel Hill in 2026 — concentrations in clarinet performance and composition

• Master’s student in Transportation Engineering at UC Berkeley

Rates

• 30 minutes — $45

• 45 minutes — $65

• 60 minutes — $85

• Travel fee — +$10 for in-home lessons

Location

• Berkeley, CA — Next to UC Berkeley campus; in-home lessons available throughout Berkeley and surrounding communities

• Cary, NC — Occasionally teaching in the area

• Virtual — Available throughout the U.S.

Primary Instruction

• Clarinet (Bb, Bass, E♭, Alto)

• Music Theory (free in lessons, including AP)

Other Available Instruction

• Saxophone (Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Soprano)

• Flute & Piccolo

• Beginner Piano

• Composition

• Marching Cymbals

• Group Lessons and Chamber Coaching

• Reduced rates available for lessons in saxophone, flute, piccolo, beginner piano, and composition

• Contact for pricing on marching cymbals, group lessons, and chamber coaching

Additional Logistics

• Flexible scheduling throughout the week

• In-home lessons preferred when possible

• 45- or 60-minute lessons are recommended

• Especially experienced in preparing middle and high school students for honors ensembles auditions, though students of all ages and experience levels are welcome

• Will listen to and provide feedback on recordings from students outside of lessons for free, especially during audition seasons

• Lecciones disponible en español

• Flexible pricing available when needed

How many beats are there in a whole note? Music theory says 4. Sheet music says 2 in cut time and some fractional value in compound meter. Donald Oehler, one of my clarinet professors from UNC Chapel Hill, says 5 because the whole note doesn’t end until the fifth beat has arrived.

Each answer offers unique information on how to best perform the music, though I see Professor Oehler’s 5-beat definition as the most useful since it encourages musicians to be present and to express with intent.

When I teach, I always encourage my students to think about small details like this. Woodwinds hide so much of their sound production inside the human body, making these instruments mostly invisible. I help my students develop the skill of observing their own bodies’ mechanics so that they can truly see the instrument they’re playing.

Developing this awareness opens up a whole new world of musical growth. I intentionally phrase my feedback so students can continue discovering new meaning in it years later as they become more aware of their bodies and instruments. This philosophy is inspired by my high school clarinet teacher, Mei Thai, who says that her job as a teacher is to show her students how to be their own teacher when she’s not there with them. I strive to do the same in every lesson.

Beyond developing musical skills, I hope my students leave lessons with greater confidence, resilience, patience, curiosity, and compassion. Like my own teachers, I believe that music educators have the opportunity to help students grow both as musicians and as people.