Pedagogy for Winds and Brass: teaching resources for performers who teach
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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.
This site is a free, open library of teaching resources for wind and brass players — whether you are a performer stepping into your first studio of students, a private teacher looking for fresh approaches, or an educator shaping a curriculum. The materials cover every aspect of teaching wind players, from basic techniques, philosophies, and methods for beginners through to working with advanced secondary and collegiate students. You will find readings, video lectures, and interactive activities that explore effective ways to teach musicality, tone production, rhythm, phrasing, and physical set-up, alongside best practices for embedding learning, promoting healthy playing habits, and leading both private lessons and ensemble rehearsals.
Use the resources at your own pace and in any order — there is no sign-up required to read, watch, and explore.
These resources grew out of a hybrid course originally created by hornist Hazel Dean Davis and bassoonist Rachael Elliot in 2020.
Flipped Classroom
These same resources also form the backbone of a semester-long college course taught in a flipped classroom format. In a flipped classroom, students take in the readings, lectures, and videos on their own time, which frees up in-person class meetings for in-depth discussion, collaborative problem-solving, observation, experimentation, and student teaching.
Instructors are welcome to build their own classes around these materials. If you are a student already enrolled in the course, head to the course page for the full lesson sequence and progress tracking.
What You'll Find Inside
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.
Learn more about Hazel