Steven Siegel
Musician/Educator/Adjudicator

Teaching Philosophy

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Teaching music has provided me some of the greatest joys of my life. My passion for teaching and helping others began at a young age and has grown exponentially through present time. I believe all students have the ability to learn provided they are given proper instruction, have a strong work ethic, and desire to learn. I understand my students come from a variety of diverse backgrounds, but this does not affect their future success to become fantastic musicians. One of the challenges I enjoy as a teacher is all students learn differently in addition to having their own strengths and weaknesses. I am in a constant search of finding new teaching strategies by attending music conferences, summer camps, and masterclasses to improve my craft and continue my journey as a lifelong learner.

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Similar to many of my former teachers, I prescribe to the teachings of Arnold Jacobs. Brass instruments should be viewed as an extension of the human voice. As musicians, we should always perform with our best tone quality by using proper breath control and allowing a rich, warm sound to result. Song and Wind by Arnold Jacobs is a must-have book for serious brass players. I believe it is important to lead by example, which is why I arrive to work early every day, practice my craft, listen intensively to music, and take care of administrative duties. I believe self-motivation is the key to success. If students solely rely on their teachers for motivation, they will not be ready for the professional world once they graduate. When it comes to recruiting prospective students, I value their passion and determination to succeed more than their current abilities. As the saying goes, “Hard work will beat talent if talent does not work hard.” I do not believe there is an end goal in music, rather a life-long pursuit to become the best musician one can be.

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Lastly, I feel I can learn as much from my students as they learn from me. I am inspired by them and this encourages me to be the best educator I can be. I keep an open mind and welcome the ideas of my students. This collaboration of ideas between my students and myself helps both of us grow. I am excited about the years of teaching yet to come and the experiences I will encounter along the way.