Teacher Spotlight
We have a new edition to the Woodsy's family, Jessie Rowe. Jessie will be learning the art of woodwind repair from Greg. Her extensive knowledge of the instrument has already given her a big head start, and we are very excited to see her progress as a repair technician. In edition to doing repairs Jessie will also be our newest woodwind teacher. So we're going to take some time to get to know a little more about her.
What high school and college did you attend?
I went St. Joseph Academy in Cleveland for high school, and I earned my degree in instrumental music education from Ashland University with clarinet as my primary instrument.
What ensembles did you participate in at school?
I played the clarinet in the symphony orchestra at St. Joseph's. I had a lot more performance opportunities once I got to college though. At Ashland I was in the marching band, concert band, woodwind ensemble, and clarinet ensemble.
What experience do you have with other woodwind instruments?
In addition to playing clarinet for 14 years, I have also been playing saxophone and flute for 10 years.
What's your favorite part about playing?
I really enjoy playing in a group. Concert band was my favorite, but I really enjoyed being a field commander in marching band.
What made you want to pursue teaching music as a career?
Believe it or not I was actually inspired by a bad experience that I had with a teacher. That made me realize how critical quality instruction is to the progress of the student, and inspired me to help guide students to a true understanding of their instrument through dedication and self-discipline.
Briefly, what is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that music lessons should be an empowering experience. Everyone is capable of learning, and I enjoy cultivating the natural talent that is present in all of us.
