Philly’s best in-home clarinet lessons
Discover the magic
of in-home lessons
What if you could get the highest quality clarinet lessons, with less hassle?
Jump right to the good part of clarinet lessons by having a professional come to your home. With 15 years of teaching experience, I provide the highest level of training, while keeping things fun and easier to fit into your busy life.
Life can be more efficient. Avoid rush-hour traffic and wasted time, book an in-home lesson with me.
Hey, I’m Kate! I'm here to help you reach your goals on your instrument in the comfort of your home.
I began playing the clarinet in my elementary school band and nearly 20 years later earned my Doctorate of Musical Arts in clarinet performance from Lousiana State University. (You can call me Dr. Kate, or just Kate). I’ve had the pleasure of performing in many professional orchestras, opera companies, and with incredible musicians like Lang Lang, Renee Fleming, and Natalie Cole.
Over the past decade, I’ve served as Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone at Louisiana College, Interim Professor of Clarinet at the University of Delaware, and toured in Missouri, Mississippi, Panama, Madrid, and Chile. But honestly, my favorite role has been as a private lesson teacher!
Teaching is a real passion and even though I professionally work now as a corporate event planner, I continue to maintain a small studio of students. My philosophy is that music can be challenging and fun at the same time. Some bonus facts about me: I studied neuroscience and played soccer at the University of Rochester, have a wonderful husband, dog and cat, and I love visiting the Adirondack mountains and snuggling up with a good fiction book in a hammock.
Meet your instructor
FAQs
What will I need in my home?
All we’ll need are two armless chairs, a music stand, and a quiet room or nook of the house. We’ll also use a notebook and pencil to record what happens in each lesson and what to practice.
What does this cost?
I offer 1-hour lessons at a sliding scale between $60-85 per session. This allows families to select what they can afford.
What other costs are there?
Some initial costs may be required to get each student ready for success. I’ll help evaluate the equipment you have and make any suggestions the are appropriate. Usually, the most expensive item that might be suggested is a new mouthpiece ~$120. Music resources will be requested occasionally - usually about $20 at a time.
What level do you teach?
All levels are welcome in my studio. If your child is showing a lot of interest in their instrument and you want to support that goal, that’s perfect.
If you have a high schooler that is serious about auditioning for honor groups or even prepping for music school auditions, I can help with that.
Are you an adult who always wanted to learn an instrument, or played in the past and would like to revisit, we can do that together.
Each student is given a customized curriculum to help them reach their goals, and we reevaluate those goals together every few months.
What should I do during my kid’s lesson?
This is totally up to you. For some families, guardians will stay nearby and listen to the lesson, others will run an errand and come back before the lesson is over, and for families I have worked with for a while, sometimes I’ll miss the adults completely. We’ll work to create an environment that everyone feels comfortable with.
How does scheduling work?
I build my schedule based on the number of students in my studio and their availability. Typically I try to place lessons on 1 or 2 days per week so my trips from downtown Philadelphia to the Main Line are consolidated. Lessons will typically be between 4:00 pm and 8:30 pm.
Usually, we will try to keep the same time every week, but we keep it flexible to accommodate my own travel and student’s needs.
How do we pay you?
Venmo, check or cash are accepted at the end of each lesson.
Will my student practice?
Great question! Learning a musical instrument is a perfect opportunity to work as a family on universal skills like setting goals, tracking progress, time management, and communication. I expect you to help your student learn how to build a habit of practice and I can offer suggestions on ways families can do that.
Get in Touch!
Excited to set up a first lesson? Share your details and I'll reach out soon. Looking forward to connecting with you!