Kate Eakin
Kate Eakin, Oboe
Preferred Student Level: high school (that said, kids under 8-9 are too small for the instrument)
What do you want to impart to your students through your teaching?
Of course one wants to impart that music is an enjoyable and challenging life-long pursuit, regardless of whether the student strives to be a professional or a dedicated amateur and/or listener. Teaching music is also, however, a golden opportunity to teach analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as collaborative and people skills.
Are there specific methods or techniques that you use in your teaching that may be important to share with prospective students?
Singing is fundamental to the development of the “inner ear” and to musical memory. I therefore require all students to sing in their lessons.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I love the moment when someone finally gets something for the first time.
Briefly describe your musical pursuits outside Sherwood:
English horn, Battle Creek Symphony
Oboe/English horn, Millennium Chamber Players
Minister of Music, St. Mark United Church of Christ
What is your earliest musical experience or memory?
The radio was always on at our house, and we sang along with absolutely everything.
Please describe one of your favorite teachers or mentors:
Earnie Harrison, former principal oboist of the National Symphony, was not only my teacher but also my surrogate grandfather. Among many lessons, he taught me that a great teacher is one who also teaches about life, and shows how to teach yourself.
Who is your favorite composer, or what is your favorite musical period?
I like the French impressionists (Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc) and Romantic/20th century Russians - Prokofiev and Rimsky-Korsakov.
Preferred Student Level: high school (that said, kids under 8-9 are too small for the instrument)What do you want to impart to your students through your teaching?
Of course one wants to impart that music is an enjoyable and challenging life-long pursuit, regardless of whether the student strives to be a professional or a dedicated amateur and/or listener. Teaching music is also, however, a golden opportunity to teach analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as collaborative and people skills.
Are there specific methods or techniques that you use in your teaching that may be important to share with prospective students?
Singing is fundamental to the development of the “inner ear” and to musical memory. I therefore require all students to sing in their lessons.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I love the moment when someone finally gets something for the first time.
Briefly describe your musical pursuits outside Sherwood:
English horn, Battle Creek Symphony
Oboe/English horn, Millennium Chamber Players
Minister of Music, St. Mark United Church of Christ
What is your earliest musical experience or memory?
The radio was always on at our house, and we sang along with absolutely everything.
Please describe one of your favorite teachers or mentors:
Earnie Harrison, former principal oboist of the National Symphony, was not only my teacher but also my surrogate grandfather. Among many lessons, he taught me that a great teacher is one who also teaches about life, and shows how to teach yourself.
Who is your favorite composer, or what is your favorite musical period?
I like the French impressionists (Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc) and Romantic/20th century Russians - Prokofiev and Rimsky-Korsakov.