Our goal is 100% program enrollment in private lessons! Private lessons offer students a one-on-one opportunity to study with a professional on their instrument. Lessons can offer remedial help if needed, but more importantly offer a chance to advance more rapidly through attention to individual technique and exposure to more material as a faster pace than full band class. Our lesson teachers are highly qualified musicians who have been back ground checked and approved by BISD Fine Arts. They will meet with your child once a week at North Ridge during their band class or before/after school. Lessons are $20 per week payable directly to the teacher. Financial aid is available to students by contacting Ms. Shadman.
Please feel free to contact the teachers below to get more information and schedule your first lesson directly or email a band director to get connected!
Please feel free to contact the teachers below to get more information and schedule your first lesson directly or email a band director to get connected!
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Kaitlin Jones is an active flute teacher and freelance flutist in the DFW area. Ms. Jones received her Master of Music in Flute Performance in the spring of 2019 from the University of Michigan under the tutelage of professor and world renowned flutist, Amy Porter.
Born and raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Ms. Jones completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Music in the spring of 2017. The 20-21 school year will be Ms. Jones' second year teaching in Birdville, HEB, and Northwest ISD's. |
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Oboe
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Ms. Tessa Gartin teaches clarinet private lessons to students between the 6th and 12th grade around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, specifically in Birdville ISD and Mansfield ISD. Ms. Gartin is an active performer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who regularly performs with the Mansfield Wind Symphony, the Northeast Orchestra of Tarrant County and with the Texas Chamber Music Project. She grew up in San Antonio, TX and is a graduate of Ronald Reagan High School. Ms. Gartin graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education at Southern Methodist University in 2013 and then continued her studies at the University of Maryland, where she graduated with a Masters of Music in Music Performance in 2015. Prior to teaching privately, Ms. Gartin taught middle school band for four years as an assistant band director. This will be Ms. Gartin's third year teaching in Birdville ISD and Mansfield ISD.
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Ann Hung, born in Taipei, Taiwan, began her musical studies at a young age, starting with piano at age five and clarinet at age nine. Dr. Hung is an active performer in the Dallas and Fort Worth area who regularly performs in the realms of both the orchestral and chamber music. Dr. Hung is currently teaching in Lewisville ISD, Birdville ISD as private lesson instructor and often plays with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Dallas Chamber Symphony. She is the associate director of the Fort Worth Performances for Autism and co-founder of the Opus Nova Chamber Music Series.
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Mr. Hall is the Bassoon instructor at TCU and has taught private lessons for the students of North Ridge since 2000.
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Paul Zaborac Bio Paul Zaborac is a versatile saxophonist, composer, and educator. He has performed throughout the U.S. and internationally in Costa Rica, China, Hong Kong, and Australia. Well versed in both classical and jazz saxophone, Paul brings a diverse set of skills to his performances. In addition to his solo and chamber music activities, Paul has performed with the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Longmont Symphony Orchestra. Paul completed an undergraduate degree in music education at Simpson College and then proceeded to obtain a Master of Music degree in saxophone performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Australia. He completed his doctorate in saxophone performance and pedagogy at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he served as a teaching assistant and the saxophone instructor for the continuing education department.
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Dr. James Sims earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance from The University of Texas at Austin where he studied with Ray Crisara. His Bachelor’s degree is from Baylor University. He is currently Principal Trumpet of the East Texas Symphony and the Wichita Falls Symphony and has played with numerous other orchestras. He is also Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Dallas Winds. Dr. Sims performs regularly with Casa Manana Musicals and has performed with the Dallas Summer Musicals. Dr. Sims has taught at all levels including positions at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Tarleton State University, and the University of Texas at Tyler.
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Scott Mayo currently maintains horn studios in the Birdville, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, and Krum school districts. He has performed with various civic and professional ensembles throughout Southwest Missouri and North Texas including the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Missouri Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra. He earned his Master of Music in Horn Performance from the University of North Texas where he studied with Dr. Stacie Mickens. Prior to this, he completed his Bachelor of Music degree at Missouri State University with Dr. Lisa Casey.
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Ramsey MacDonald is a retired band director who taught at the middle and high school levels in the Richardson, Cypress Fairbanks, Allen, and Birdville school districts. He earned a bachelor’s of music education degree and a performance certificate from Southern Methodist University. He studied trombone with Joe H. Dixon Jr., Albert Lube (Houston Symphony Orchestra), and John Kitzman (Dallas Symphony Orchestra). He currently teaches private lessons in Argyle and Birdville ISD. He also teaches masterclasses and serves as a clinician in the DFW area.
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Patrick Geren is an independent music educator, performer, & composer currently located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He also works as a brass instructor with the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps (Canton, OH) serving as the lead baritone & euphonium instructor. He earned his Master’s in Performance from the University of Georgia & his Bachelor’s in Music Education & Performance from Illinois State University
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Leon was born in Germany and moved to the United States at a young age. Growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, he encountered the difficulties of starting a new life in an area foreign to him and often found solace in music and rhythm. After graduating from Richland High School, he explored his passion by pursuing an instrumental music education degree as a percussionist at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas under the instruction of Dr. Brian West and Dr. Richard Gipson. He spent summers marching with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, attending intensive workshops like the Chosen Vale Percussion Seminar with nationally recognized educators, composers, and performers, and participating as a clinician, composer, and technician for local marching bands in the North Texas metroplex. After graduating from TCU, I moved to Nebraska to study with Dr. Dave Hall and the award-winning percussion studio at the University of Nebraska — Lincoln, where I completed a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance. I’m incredibly grateful and excited to be back teaching in the place where I developed my passion and skills in the percussion field.
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