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Don
- Rate $175
- Response 1h
-
Students6
Number of students Don has accompanied since arriving at Superprof
Number of students Don has accompanied since arriving at Superprof

$175/h
1st lesson free
- Music Theory
Experienced tutor in Music theory in San Mateo, Don offers private lessons tailored to your needs.
- Music Theory
Lesson location
Recommended
Don is a respected tutor in our community. They are highly recommended for their commitment and the quality of their lessons. An excellent choice to progress with confidence.
About Don
My students as a group make much faster and much more extensive progress than those from other studios, because I have a rare ability to diagnose sound, and determine how the student creates their tone quality. This has allowed me to write a much more accurate and comprehensive list of fundamentals than is commonly taught. I've also done some research, and have found several ways to speed progress, by training students how to think while playing.
For me, there's nothing like the exhilaration of the "aha!" moment, when a student "gets it," and is blown away by the discovery. Those happen regularly in my studio. The level of the student is irrelevant. I've had them from rank beginnner to budding pro, and that moment is always available.
After a successful start as a performer, I discovered I got more reward from teaching. It was the difference between entertaining people, and making a profound difference in their lives.
I toured with many stars of my youth, like Henry Mancini, Andy Williams, the Carpenters, Johnny Mathis, and the Temptations, and played with the SF Symphony, Opera, and Ballet orchestras after moving to the Bay Area.
50 years experience teaching, BS Indiana University cum laude.
About the lesson
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- +2
levels :
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Proficient
Children
- English
All languages in which the lesson is available :
English
It all starts with learning how to make it easy, while getting better! Those two things go hand in hand, because to make it right, you have to avoid unnecessary tension, which all students start out with.
All types. Everyone from the rank beginner, to the budding pro. All levels of interest and talent. The discoveries I've made have resulted in my distilling the book on fundamentals to a few things that work for everyone. The refinements are simply extensions of the fundamentals.
You want to have a good connection, early on. You're going to be learning a lot more than just music with a good teacher, like perseverance, the strength and power of a positive approach, practice discipline that pays off big time.
A few years ago, a HS senior student of mine broke into the pros, playing with a well-known jazz group in Oakland. The leader couldn't get over the fact that he was just 17!
I'm classically and commercially trained,/p>
A few things worth thinking about before reaching out
I can't speak for other teachers, but in my studio, no question is off-limits . I believe we're all of a piece, as human beings. Anything that affects one part of us, will have at least some ramifications in every other part. So if something is getting in the way, let's deal with it.
Recommendations
Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the tutor.
Mr Howe always conducted very focused, and disciplined lessons in which we focused a lot on the basic fundamentals of trombone playing. He always stressed the importance of making it feel easy to play the trombone. We also worked on the music I was assigned for school, or college audition material, as well as various classical concertos, and etudes. The 8 years I spent studying with him (partially over zoom) since I was a raw beginner was difficult at times, but it pays off for me every single day as I continue my career as a gigging trombonist in New Orleans. Mr Howe ingrained good habits in me, and layed a perfect foundation for voice on the trombone. After studing with Mr Howe I feel well prepared to become a professional trombonist. I highly recommend taking lessons from Don Howe if you are serious about playing the Trombone.
Don Howe has been the low brass coach at Northgate HS for 12 years. Every section and individual I send him, consistently improves! He is equally adept at working with advanced players, and at developing the less experienced. He is an insightful teacher, and an outstanding musician.
View more recommendations
Rates
Rate
- $175
Pack rates
- 5 h: $875
- 10 h: $1750
free lessons
This first lesson offered with Don will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.
- 1hrs
online
- $175/h
Details
My rates are based on $125/hr. 45 minutes is the norm for intermediate and advanced students, and 1 hour for the occasional exceptional student working on professional refinements.
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