I started clarinet lessons with Stephen one year and 3 months ago. I could not read a note of music, knew zero about music theory, and even less about clarinets. As a (very) adult student, I had many doubts about my ability to learn at this musically-atypical stage of my life to read music and play an instrument for the first time. Initially, I was quite nervous during my lessons, trying to show Stephen how perfectly I could play them, so I was very frustrated and disappointed in myself when I performed them as if I had not practiced. Yet, to the contrary I was very diligent in preparing for the lessons, and could play them well enough at home. Stephen's patient, friendly manner gradually put me at ease, so that now I look forward to each lesson, my nervousness vanquished. He helped me understand that music isn't at all about playing a lesson perfectly; it is an ongoing quest to keep improving, as best as you can, rather than achieve some notion of instant "perfection", an elusive goal even for a professional musician. Stephen's firm, earnest insistence on learning good form as the key to playing even better in the future inspired me to persevere and continue to improve my technique. So, I am amazed to find myself in this short period of time playing duets with Stephen, keeping up with him and holding my own, playing my part with confidence and a level of competence I could never have imagined having so soon. My ability to sight-read is noticeably improving, because Stephen pushes me beyond what I thought were my limits, to bring out my best ability. And, I find myself playing notes and fingering combinations I never thought I would be able to manage, at tempos I thought I might never master. All of this has been possible because Stephen loves teaching and believes in his students. The undeniable evidence is a student like me who was given a chance to thrive in the world of music, to the best of my capabilities. Stephen can teach students of any age-- I am only one example of what can be accomplished with a terrific, patient teacher who loves his work, and a student's desire to learn through a collaborative process of diligence and pure enjoyment. read more