Practice the right way to make every practice session count!

Learning how to practice well is essential to the development and success of every music student. Repeating bad habits, lack of focused attention, and the inability to extract specific issues and deal with them efficiently are challenges that students face while practicing. A practice coach can help eliminate these destructive habits and improve the student’s ability to practice with maximum efficiency.

A good practice coach can be an invaluable part of a serious music student’s progress. We hope you’ll take advantage of this unique opportunity to dramatically improve the productivity of your practice time! 

Woodwind and Brass Instrument Practice Coaching:

• Provide feed back so that mistakes and bad habits will not be repeated during daily practice
• Guide the student to practice the hard parts methodically
• Improve practice efficiency
• Make the practice session interesting and inspiring

Andrew is a Band Director and saxophonist based in the northern Virginia area. He began his music studies at a very young age, and took up the saxophone in middle school, studying privately with local university professors. As a high school student, he was chosen to perform as part of a local college jazz band, as well as a local praise and worship band in weekly, internationally-televised services. 

Andrew earned the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education as well as a Performance Certificate from Shenandoah Conservatory. At Shenandoah, he was a member of the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and several saxophone quartets. He was also a featured performer with the Symphony Orchestra in Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”, and with the Wind Ensemble in William Bolcom’s “Concerto Grosso”.

Andrew completed his graduate studies at the University of South Carolina, where he performed with the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and graduate saxophone quartet. While at USC, he was featured with the Symphony Orchestra on Leonard Bernstein’s “‘Symphonic Dances’ from ‘West Side Story’”, and with the Wind Ensemble on Michael Daugherty’s “Urban Requiem” for Saxophone Quartet and Band.

Additional performances include: multiple performances with the Shenandoah Conservatory Saxophone Quartet at the United States Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage with the Shenandoah Jazz Ensemble, University of South Carolina’s Southern Exposure music series with the graduate saxophone quartet, and premieres of several new works for solo, chamber, and large ensemble settings. 

Andrew’s saxophone instructors include: Clifford Leaman, Timothy Roberts, Antoine Clark, Harry Farmer, and Lynn Seipp. He has also performed in master classes taught by Claude Delangle, Mario Marzi, Philippe Geiss

As a Music Educator, Andrew served as the Director of Bands and Choirs at James Kenan High School, where he tripled the size of the Marching Band and expanded opportunities for music students. He is currently the Director of Bands at Osbourn High School. He directs the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Musical Theatre Pit Orchestras, Percussion Ensemble, and Show Choir Band. Under his direction, the Osbourn High School Band program was recognized as a Virginia Honor Band for the first time in 21 years, and contributed to the first VMEA Blue Ribbon in Osbourn’s history. Osbourn Bands have also earned consistent Superior ratings at VBODA Concert Assessment events.  Andrew also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Manassas Symphony Orchestra.

Awards and Achievements

-Beginning Teacher of the Year, James Kenan High School 2017

-Outstanding 2nd Year Teacher, Osbourn High School 2019

-Outstanding 3rd Year Teacher, Manassas City Public Schools 2020

-Virginia Honor Band, Osbourn High School 2019

-VMEA Blue Ribbon Award for Performing Arts, Osbourn High School 2019 

Risk-Free Satisfaction Guarantee

If the trial lesson doesn’t meet your expectations, we’ll gladly help you connect with another top-rated, highly qualified tutor—or issue a FULL refund.

Refund for Lesson Packages

You may cancel a lesson package with at least 24 hours' written notice before the next lesson. Completed lessons will be billed at the standard hourly rate, and the remaining balance will be refunded minus a 5% processing fee. The fee is waived if you keep the balance as credit on your TimeAfterSchool account for other lessons.

Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy

• Standard Policy: Provide at least 24 hours' notice before the scheduled start time to cancel or reschedule a lesson free of charge. Cancellations or reschedules with less than 24 hours’ notice will incur the full lesson fee.
• Grace Period for Packages: For each packages of 10 or more lessons, you are allowed one late cancellation or rescheduling (with less than 24 hours' notice) without penalty to accommodate unexpected situations. Any additional late cancellations or changes beyond this one-time exception will be charged in full.

Adult Supervision

All tutoring sessions for students under 18 years old must be supervised by a responsible adult.