Pedagogy for Winds and Brass: a teaching methods course for performers who want to teach
Become a Better Teacher Today
Aspiring musician-performers often possess advanced technical skill and deep theoretical knowledge within their instrument or musical discipline but lack the pedagogical skills to effectively transfer this knowledge to students. This gap presents challenges when they enter teaching roles, as their struggle with self-efficacy, combined with a lack of pedagogical knowledge, can make it difficult for them to articulate concepts, adapt instruction to various learning levels, and create engaging learning experiences.
With a flipped classroom format, this class examines all aspects of teaching wind players: from basic techniques, philosophies, and methods for teaching beginners, to working with advanced secondary and collegiate students. Class meetings are the central component of the course and include opportunities to observe, experiment and reflect on learning. Through these authentic experiences and the comprehensive e-learning module, this course explores effective ways of teaching musicality, tone production, rhythm, phrasing, and physical set-up for winds and brass. Learners become familiar with best practices to embed learning, how to promote healthy playing habits, and strategies to teach private lessons and lead ensemble rehearsals.
Flipped Classroom
No more boring lectures. Take in the readings, lectures, and videos at home. In-person class reserved for in depth discussions, collaborative activities, and student teaching.
Authentic Experiences
Using role-playing and collaborative problem solving, we will explore common teaching scenarios.
Teaching Brass and Woodwind Techniques
Want to learn why there's a chimp in the horn studio? Join the course to find out!
About
your Instructor
“As a teacher, Hazel is inspiring, insightful, and invested.”
—Logan Fischer, former student
Hazel Dean Davis is Lecturer of Horn at Boston University and an in-demand orchestral, chamber and Broadway hornist living in Arlington, Massachusetts. She played the solo horn chair in the revival of 1776 on Broadway in New York City in 2022-2023 and on the national tour in 2023, and is a longtime member of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra in Boston. Hazel has performed with the Boston Symphony and Pops, Cincinnati Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, A Far Cry, Boston Ballet, and Portland Symphony. Hazel regularly performs on chamber recitals with Chameleon Arts Ensemble, Chamber Music Boston, Music Con Vivo, and the Longy faculty Series.
Hazel grew up in St. Paul, MN before attending Harvard University (B.A. ‘03) and The Juilliard School (G.D. ‘04). She was a Tanglewood Music Center Fellow for two summers, and also attended the Marlboro, Pacific, and Aspen Music Festivals. At age 22 she won a job with the Virginia Symphony where she played as 4th and then 2nd horn from 2004-2015. A dedicated teacher, Hazel is on faculty at Boston University School of Music, Longy School of Music and the Brevard Music Festival. She also maintains a private horn studio in Arlington, MA, where she lives with her husband, three kids, cat, dog, and tortoise.
