Education
Brian earned a B.M.E. from Florida State University, an M.M. from Baylor University, and a D.M.A. from Catholic University of America.
Performance and Teaching Experience
An experienced musician, Brian is a former member of the United States Air Force Band, the 257th Army Band, the Georgetown Quartet, and the Waco Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to teaching at Levine, Brian is on faculty at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, VA, teaching applied clarinet. Prior to that, Brain was the Professor of Clarinet at George Mason University for nine years.
Brian has had seven articles published in “The Instrumentalist” and performed solo at the 2008 Clarinet Association Conference.
At Levine
Brian has been on the Levine faculty since 2000, teaching private clarinet instruction and honors chamber coaching.
“My favorite part of Levine is the variety of opportunities available to students of every level and age. Music isn’t meant to be confined to the practice studio. It needs to be shared and explored.”
Teaching Philosophy and Approach
“I am strongly committed to teaching. I seek to engage new clarinetists and strive for us both to be mutually invested in our lessons. I aim to become their guide on a joint exploration rather than the active/passive-teacher/student roles. Education works best when the student is enthralled in the subject matter. Once we’ve discovered what interests them, we begin building a foundation on that. I try to leverage the student’s strengths and interests to explore the areas that need attention, especially those that are challenging. I love presenting topics in a way where the student experiences success and discovers their value. Ultimately, success and enjoyment rely on preparation. If a student arrives unprepared, neither of us will enjoy our time together. This is where a partnership between parent and student is vital.”