This post is part of a series highlighting our lessons instructors! Dorian teaches low brass instruments including trombone, euphonium, tuba, and occasionally French horn or trumpet! He has performed as both a jazz and classical musician in many major hall across Europe and has toured the Middle East with Pulitzer Prize winner and recent NEA Jazz Master Henry Threadgill. Dorian has performed on stage and recorded with many jazz legends to rock and roll icons. He has also arranged music for many shows featuring Glen Burnik of STYX, Beatlemania reunion shows, his tuba can be heard on PBS, and for the last 6 years Dorian is one of the house band arrangers and performers for the NJ Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Back in the mid 1990s, he headed a premier brass quintet featuring staff from Julliard School of Music and Lincoln Center Met Orchestra.
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Where are you from, and how did you end up in Greensboro?
I was born and raised in Neptune NJ and taught in the school system for 11 years. Although I taught in Neptune since graduating college in 1983, I had been teaching music from age 15 at many summer arts camps – one, in particular, was the New Jersey for the Arts in Westfield, NJ. In 1998, I moved to Somerset, NJ, and taught in North Plainfield School System so that I could be closer to the New York music scene. I have taught music at all age levels and retired in 2017.
My family moved to North Carolina to be closer to my wife's family. Her mother is a native of Wilkesboro, NC, and retired in Winston-Salem in 1985 after living in New York for some time.
Where did you get your degree(s)?
In 1983 I received my BA in Performance & Education from Trenton State College (currently known as The College of New Jersey – TCNJ). I also received a Master’s in Administration from Phoenix University and have principal and superintendent certification in NJ.
How did you get started playing music, and who were your primary teachers?
I started playing music at a young age since my father was an accomplished musician, instrument repair tech, school educator and administrator. My father was also involved with the NJ State Music Educator’s Association as president and sat on many committees, thus giving me access to an entire state of music educators. Dad played as a sub with Ike & Tina Turner when he went to college in NC. I followed my father to many meetings and events and made many friends (educators) that helped me on the way. I also met many famed musicians like composer Alfred Reed (I performed on some of his composition demo releases); Publisher Bill Holcombe (I also performed on many of his publication's demo recordings); Ed Sueta and many more. As a youngster, I met many members of the Johnny Cason Tonight Show Band, Clark Terry, Bill Watrus, Clarence Clemmons, etc, and many of these musicians spoke to me and said that they were in awe of the educator my father was. This inspired me to continue as an educator and performer.
I learned to be a multi-instrumentalist, as many NJ band directors' children were. We all participated in summer bands and in our parents' school bands even if we did not attend that particular school. We had to fill up a section of the band or play some instrument that no one else was playing. I have played many instruments from tuba, bass, clarinet, saxophone, euphonium, trumpet, to trombone professionally on several occasions from a doubler on Broadway, jazz clubs to high school musicals.
Over the many years as a tuba performer, I have had many encounters with many fine world renowned performer/educators. Prior to college and beyond, I studied with Don Butterfield who performed with the NBC Orchestra under Toscanini – National Symphony – Charlie Mingus and more; in addition, in college I studied with composer and NY Opera trombonist David Uber to which I helped edit method books and solos; and many lessons (more than 5) legendary Harvey Phillips; jazz legends Howard Johnson & Bob Stewart; NY Philharmonic tubist Warren Deck; Howard Hovey of the famed Rubank method books. I have also participated in workshops with Malcolm Arnold of the famed Chicago Symphony.
Can you sum up your teaching style in a short paragraph?
I believe it is particularly important point for a classroom educator be a versatile player on multiple instruments. Knowing the physics of each instrument you teach allows one to put themselves in the student’s shoes and to solve issues quickly and efficiently. As a classroom teacher, you are in a room with 20 different playing styles and it is important to recall your musical pedagogy in devising the plan to resolve multiple issues at once.
What do you want students to take out of lessons?
I want each student to walk away satisfied that they accomplished something big during a lesson. For a beginners first lesson I have the student create a sound and then have them copy something that I am doing. By the end of the first lesson the student has played an entire 2 octave chromatic scale and has not a clue as to what they have done until I point it out to them. The students walk away with a huge sense of accomplishment.
Can you share a memorable experience you’ve had teaching?
The most memorable and emotional moment I had was back when I taught at my old middle school. The school system had a deaf education program and many of us, as we grew up in the school, learned sign language. I had the wonderful opportunity to cover for my friend and colleague, the deaf ed teacher, on several occasions since I was okay at using sign language. Well, the kids got to know me and enjoyed the attention I had for them as I taught a general music class which they were a part of. Five students from this hearing-impaired class approached me to participate in band. I had so much to learn myself as I taught flute, clarinet, and drums. Mind you that this was before the internet as we know it, so I called Gallaudet School for the deaf and sat upon many phone calls and conferences with professors there and beyond to gain information on vibrations and defining pulses to the students. These students participated at the school band concert with all the hearing students and performed as individuals at the concert to a rousing crowd of hands signing the word ‘Love’.
At Moore Music Company, I have had the joy of taking young students beyond their expected levels on their first few lessons. They were surprised that they performed 5 songs before the first lesson was over. I had two brothers from a family – one started on baritone in 6th grade and the other was in the 4th grade. The 4th grade student was moving so fast that he finished book one in almost less than 4 months. His older brother in 6th grade was so far ahead of his class at school that before they finished Jingle Bells, he was in book 2.
I have also enjoyed sharing music with several Guilford county schools through the Summer Arts program as well as demonstrating various instruments to the elementary students in several of the areas private schools.
What equipment or materials do you recommend for beginner students? Intermediate/advanced students?
I recommend young tuba players play on three-quarter size horns first before the school throws them on the five-quarter sized horns. I recommend Yamaha horns for their tone and ease of facility. I play all Yamaha horns from my baritone sax, flute, trombones, trumpets, to my tuba. Method books vary for the player. I like the Essential Elements books for school bands, but the Rubank books are great for students that catch on quickly and practice often. I also find that signature mouthpieces work better for advanced students. These mouthpieces are a bit more researched for tone and access to flexibility on your horn. Everyone is different.
Thanks, Dorian!
Naomi Woods (Director of Music Education and Community Outreach, Violin Instructor) began studying the violin at the age of 9 and holds music degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She comes across as a quiet person, until you get to know her, then she is still a quiet person. Naomi lives in Greensboro, NC, with her husband Tyler.
1 Comments
Aug 25, 2021, 9:18:14 AM
Walter G Blenderman - Both of my daughters were in the bands when he was director/teacher at North Plainfield. Great guy!