Virtual Composition Lessons for Students and Professionals

Helping you craft your best music compositions

I believe that writing music is like building a piece of handmade wooden furniture—it involves craftsmanship.

I love helping others learn the craft of writing music, and my goal is to help you write music you’re proud to share with the world.

Virtual composition lessons
are for you if you’re:

• Preparing for college or graduate school applications and want someone to review or help you put together your portfolio

• Interested in taking a few lessons over the summer or during winter break when you have time to write

• Looking to build a longer term relationship and take lessons throughout the year (on your own schedule)

I’ve taught high school students, college students, and professionals.

You can set your own lesson schedule and we can work at your pace. I always recommend scheduling a series of at least three lessons, as I’ve found this is the most beneficial for you, regardless of your goals.

Today, in the age of Zoom, it’s very easy to schedule virtual lessons—all you need is a computer (or mobile device) and an internet connection.

Sign up for a free consult

This is a half-hour Zoom call to ask questions, get to know each other, and talk through your goals. No pressure to sign up on the spot and no ongoing commitment required.

Schedule Your First Lesson

Set a lesson schedule that works for you, whether that’s bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly. For the best experience, I recommend scheduling a minimum of three lessons.

Prepare Your Piece

Now it’s time to get to work writing or editing your piece. Depending on your goals and what you’re working on right now, we may have time to go over more than one piece.

email score for review

Send me a copy of your score (XML or PDF) 48 hrs. before your lesson. This will give me time to review your work and organize my thoughts so we can make the most of our time together.

My Approach

01 Double the Time, Double the Value

I won’t waste your time in a lesson by reviewing your work for the first time and giving off-the-cuff feedback. Instead, I’ll spend dedicated time before our lesson studying your score, making notes, and pulling together tools, resources, and musical examples to ensure that you get the most value out of our lesson time as possible.

02 Individualized Experience

You’re the composer here, so the process starts with you. I’ll ask questions and listen to what you want to achieve—both in your writing and in your music career—and offer suggestions and guidance based on that.

03 Creative Liberty

You retain full creative ownership of your work. I won’t tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. Instead, I’ll offer you a variety of options and ideas, which you are free to use and incorporate however you choose.

As a composition teacher, I can:

• Review your compositions and provide feedback

• Help you generate compositional ideas

• Offer insight on orchestration

• Help you with music notation and score setup

• Offer step-by-step guidance and support for using Finale (what I use)

• Advise you on composition competitions and music schools

• Provide career-coaching advice

Lesson rates start at $95 for 60 minutes.

About me

I’m a composer and educator with over 15 years of teaching experience. I consider teaching a core element of my work as a professional composer: coaching ensembles that are performing my music, teaching classes during composer residencies throughout the US, speaking with audiences, and teaching classes at the Eastman School of Music’s Institute for Music Leadership.

My compositions have been awarded numerous national and international honors, and have been performed in major venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. Critics have called my music “attractive, unabashedly tonal and, at times, startlingly beautiful” (Miami Herald) and have praised my work as having “…sensitivity, skill and tremendous sophistication.” (Kansas City Independent)

Several of my pieces are published by major music publishers, and I self-publish the majority of my catalog. I received a B.M. in Music Theory and Composition from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, and a M.M. in Composition from the Eastman School of Music. Read my full bio >>

What other composition students are saying:

Step 01

Fill out the “Schedule a Free Consult” form and tell me a little more about yourself and what kinds of lessons you’re interested in.

Step 02

From there, we’ll set up a free 30-min. consultation to talk through your career path, current goals and projects, and ways I can help.

Step 03

At the end of the consult, you’ll have an opportunity to schedule your first virtual lesson (no pressure to make a decision on the spot, though).