What is the Aledo Music Enrichment Program (AMEP)?
The Aledo Music Enrichment Program(AMEP) offers students the ability to enhance their musical experience through private instrumental music lessons. Through interviews and auditions, we have gone to great lengths to ensure that our teachers are able to provide the highest quality instrument-specific instruction available in the DFW area.
By investing in private enrichment for your child, you are:
- Giving your child the best chance for success in band;
- Providing the impetus for your child's life long enjoyment and appreciation of music and the arts;
- Allowing your child to be provided with individualized instruction that goes at his/her own pace
- Providing an avenue for increased self-expression that will serve to reinforce and heighten an overall positive self-image;
- Greatly reducing the chance of burnout, boredom, or indifference towards music and band (consequently, students who are in lessons tend to be more motivated to practice and continue their musical growth - many times they go on to serve their peers as student leaders of the band).
The Aledo Music Enrichment Program has been in existence in Aledo for more than 15 years now. Each year, more and more of our students choose to participate in this exceptional program. As a result, the Aledo Band Program continues to grow in numbers and quality, now being regarded as one of the finest band programs in the state of Texas.
The importance of the enrichment program cannot be overstated. While lessons are not required, they are strongly encouraged. The 30 minutes per week your child would spend with a professional on his/her instrument is infinitely more important than the 4 hours the student spends with a band director during class! Depending upon lesson teacher schedule, lessons can be given before school, during band class, or after school. The fee for lessons can vary slightly from teacher to teacher.
How Do I Enroll My Child in Lessons?
If you wish to enroll your child in lessons, follow these few easy steps:
- From the links below, select your child's instrument.
- Read about potential teachers and select the teacher with whom you would like your child to study. (Note: some instruments only have one teacher)
- Contact the teacher using the information provided.
- Confirm an amicable lesson time and provide the teacher with the following information:
- Student First and Last Name
- Student Campus (Intermediate, AMS, AHS)
- Student Performing Ensemble (what band is he/she in at school)
- Primary Parent First and Last Name
- Primary Parent Email Address
- Primary Parent Phone Number
- The rest is taken care of! Your private teacher will let the band staff know that your child is taking the next step in becoming an all-star musician!
Note: If you hit a snag, or don't quite have all of the information you need to make a decision regarding a particular teacher or even whether you want your child to participate, select the "Private Lesson Question Form" link on the right hand side of this page. Fill out the required information, click submit, and a band director or private lesson teacher will contact you soon via phone or email.
Let us know if we can help in anyway. Thanks for your interest in the Aledo Music Enrichment Program!
Sincerely,
Ryan Johnstone
Music Enrichment Coordinator - Aledo ISD
Band Director - Aledo Middle School
Flute | Oboe | Clarinet | Bassoon | Saxophone
Trumpet | French Horn | Trombone | Euphonium (Baritone)/Tuba | Percussion
| Flute | |
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Jennifer Piper - Grades 6-12 Jennifer Piper is an alumna of the University of North Texas where she received a master’s degree in flute performance under Dr. Mary Karen Clardy. She received her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University where she was a finalist in the concerto competition and winner of the ‘Outstanding Musician Award’ in 2006. While attending KSU she was chosen to be an alternate in the National Flute Association’s Masterclass Competition of 2005. Jennifer has performed in many masterclasses in the United States and Canada for flutists including Mark Sparks, Paul-Edmund Davies, Jed Wentz, and Janet Arms. She now teaches privately in the DFW area and has coached several students that have qualified for All-Region as well as students who have advanced to the State level with solos and ensembles. |
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Karen Williams - Grades 6-12 Karen Williams joined the Aledo Music Education Program in 2000. In addition, she has been teaching in the Weatherford school district since 1997. She has over 50 students in her studio each year. She enjoys teaching sectionals, master classes as well as private lessons. Through private instruction, Karen prepares her students technically and musically. The students in her studio also participate in a recital each year. Many of her students have been successful at the region, area and state levels of competition – both in individual and ensemble events. When not teaching, Karen enjoys some freelance playing opportunities and playing flute at church. Karen and her husband, Earle, have been married for 27 years and they have 2 children. Brandon is a senior at Tarleton State University and Kelsey is a freshman and TCU. |
| Oboe | |
Karen Victor - Grades 6-12 Oboe teacher Karen Victor was Professor of Oboe and Wind Department Chair of the Fairbanks Arts Center in California, adjunct faculty member of the School of Music of The University of San Diego, and Lecturer in the Extended Studies Dept. of San Diego Sate University. Karen received training in Texas where she grew up, and in California where she earned three academic degrees from California State University, Los Angeles. She studied with oboists William Criss, Alan Vogel and the late William Banovetz. She has performed with all major musical organizations in Dallas, Ft. Worth and San Diego, & has worked with such artists as Marie Osmond, Tony Bennett and Smokey Robinson as well as at Disney, Universal and Goldwyn recording studios. A former Middle School band director, Karen maintains an active DFW oboe studio where students range from casual to serious musicians among the top Texas oboists. Regularly selected to Honor organizations, her pupils earn high positions in their school bands and youth orchestras. Some go on to prestigious teaching institutions; all enjoy music. The North Texas Double Reed Choir was recently formed to provide a performance group for students of the Victor Oboe Studio. Karen Victor is a member of American Federation of Musicians, Texas Music Educators Association, Cross Timbers Music Teachers Association and the National Association of Catering Executives. She has been a part of the Aledo Music Enrichment staff since 2006. |
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| Bassoon | |
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Betsy Phillips - Grades 6-12 A Tupelo, MS native, Betsy graduated from Baylor University in 2009 with a Master of Music degree. She also holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. In her college experience Betsy performed in many different ensembles including wind ensembles, symphonic and concert bands, marching bands, orchestras, chamber ensembles, and woodwind quintets.
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| Clarinet | |
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Kate Whaley- Grades 6-12 Kathryn (Kate) Whaley, a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, began studying the clarinet when she was 9 years old at the Travis Academy of Fine Arts. She began teaching clarinet in high school and has loved the many opportunities she has had to share her love of music with her students of all ages. She began directing Clarinet Camp, an annual week-long camp devoted to the exciting development of clarinet technique, musical expression, and each students’ personal enjoyment of the instrument, after her freshman year at the Eastman School of Music in the summer 0f 2008. In May of 2011, she graduated from the Eastman School with a Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Clarinet with High Distinction. Her teachers have included Daryl Coad of the University of North Texas, Kenneth Grant of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Eastman School, Victoria Luperi of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and Robert DiLutis of Louisiana State University. Kate has performed with such renowned ensembles as the Eastman Wind Ensemble and the Eastman Philharmonia. In February of 2011 she had the opportunity to perform with Renee Fleming, the People’s Diva, at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theater with the Eastman Philharmonia. These opportunities have inspired Kate to become a teacher who enables her students to open the musical doors of their imaginations so that they might learn the meaning of discipline and the rewards that will certainly follow! |
Susan Ishii - Grades 6-12 Susan Ishii has over 25 years of experience as a private music instructor. She has had numerous students make the Texas All-State Band and receive Superior "I" ratings on their solos at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest. Susan is an active free-lance musician in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She has performed with the Dallas Summer Musicals, the Fort Worth Opera Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony, the Texas Wind Symphony, the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Pete Peterson and the Collection, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Donny Osmond, and Rosemary Clooney, among others. She is also in demand as a clarinet clinician and music contest adjudicator. Mrs. Ishii has been a member of the Aledo Private Enrichement staff since 2006. |
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Chris Dyke - Grades 6-12 Chris Dyke, instructor of clarinet and bass clarinet, holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Baylor University and a Master of Music Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has performed professionally with the Waco Civic Theater, Temple Symphony Orchestra, The Ludwig Symphony, Classical Revolution Atlanta, The Army Ground Forces Band, The U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence Band, The U.S. Army Materiel Command Band, and The 98th Army Band. Chris has been active as a private instructor since 2004 in Texas, Ohio, and Georgia. A product of the Texas high school music education system, he has experience as both a student and teacher in the All-State and solo and ensemble contests and has found success through his teaching strategies which are based on musicality, ear development, and analytical thought processes. In Chris’s most recent appointment, he served as the concert master and clarinetist in the woodwind quintet for The Army Ground Forces Band based, formerly, in Atlanta, Georgia.
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| Saxophone | |
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Preston Lewis - Grades 6-12 Preston Lewis is a graduate of Texas Christian University, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2008 and a Master’s degree in Saxophone Performance in 2010. Preston received TCU’s Nordan Young Artist Award and the accompanying full scholarship upon graduation from Alvarado high school in 2004. Preston is a former student of TCU Saxophone Professor Joe Eckert, former director of the US Air Force Airmen of Note. He also studied saxophone at TCU in the studio of Dr. John Giordano, former Conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony. Preston began his formal music studies at age seven studying piano under Eastman School of Music graduate Mr. Tim Scholl, Professor of Piano and Music Theory at Southwest Adventist University. Preston continued his studies with Tim Scholl continuously until his graduation from high school, receiving numerous state, national, and international awards from the National Guild of Piano Teachers along the way. He began playing saxophone at age 8. He began private study under Mr. Tim Ishii at age 13 and was named to numerous All-District, All-Region, All-Area, and All-State jazz and concert bands on alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone throughout his public school career. Preston received first division ratings in the UIL State Saxophone Solo contest all four years in high school, receiving UIL state championship medals as an outstanding performer in two of those years. Preston went on to study at the Interlochen International Arts Camp as a double major in jazz and concert band which brought him under the tutelage of some of the nations foremost music educators, performers, and conductors including the likes of conductors Frederick Fennell, Gary Greene, and John Whitwell. He studied privately with saxophonist Tim McCallister and took saxophone master classes with Donald Sinta. He also received jazz instruction from David Kay and Frank Mantooth. During his college career Preston studied and performed with local, national, and international greats like Frank Mantooth, Lou Carfa, Tim Ries, Rick Stitzel, Andy Martin, Wayne Bergeron, Joey Carter, Jim Snidero, Dave Pietro, Victor Goines, and many others. Preston was the lead jazz tenor at TCU during his undergraduate career, switching to lead jazz alto during his graduate studies. Preston was also principal saxophonist for the TCU Wind Ensemble during both his undergraduate and graduate studies amassing a repertoire of great saxophone solos and ensemble works. In addition to jazz and concert ensembles, Preston is also a former soprano saxophonist of the Imperial Saxophone Quartet, the premier woodwind chamber ensemble of TCU. He has performed across the US and Europe including Italy’s prestigious Umbria Jazz festival. Preston has been teaching private lessons for three years and is currently accepting students. Preston is currently in demand as a performer in various bands and performing groups throughout the North Texas area. |
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John Stevens - Grades 6-12; after school lessons only John Stevens is a professional musician from the east coast and has been playing and teaching for more than 30 years. He has a Masters in Music Education from The Catholic University of America, a M.Ed. from George Mason University, and is currently working on a Ph.D. in Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mr. Stevens has played for four United States Presidents, for numerous international heads of state, and at various locations including The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and the New York Stock Exchange to name a few. Mr. Stevens served with The U.S. Army Band, Pershing’s Own in Washington D.C. from 1981 to 2006, having performed with The U.S. Army Band, Pershing’s Own, and The U.S. Army Blues. He is now retired from The Army Band and teaches private lessons at Southwestern Theological Seminary in addition to serving as the Orchestra Director at Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.. He has been teaching for the Aledo ISD since 2006 and previously in the Washington D.C .and Northern Virginia area since 1980.
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| Trumpet | |
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John Heinen - Grades 6-12 John C. Heinen Trumpet & Brass Instructor/Performer, is a 2009 graduate of the Yale University School of Music, with an Masters of Music in Instrumental Performance and a Bachelors of Music in Trumpet Performance from Texas Christian University, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2007. Mr. Heinen's professional experiences include numerous performances with the Richardson, Los Colinas, and Waterbury Symphony Orchestras. While at Yale he served as a Teaching Assistant for Music History and Early Jazz and Swing courses. He is also an avid performer and supporter of chamber playing, having founded the Elm City Brass in Connecticut, and currently a member of A Touch of Brass ensemble in Texas. |
Beth Losos - Grades 6-8 Beth Losos is a graduate of The University Of Illinois with her Bachelors in Music Education. She worked as a Band Director for five years and has been teaching private lessons in the area for the past sixteen years. Beth and her family are eighteen year residents of Aledo. She has three children, all of whom are currently in the Aledo band program. Beth is looking forward to a great year working with Aledo students. |
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| Horn | |
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Chris Jackson - Grades 6-12 Originally from DeLand, Florida, Chris Jackson is a graduate of Yale University, where he studied horn with William Purvis. Chris also holds a degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he studied with Adam Unsworth and Bryan Kennedy. During his studies, Chris worked both as a teacher and a freelance musician, maintaining a studio of over twenty students and performing with eight different local orchestras. Chris was a permanent member of several of these orchestras, and served as principal horn of the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, second horn of the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, and third horn of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. Chris has also appeared with Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, New Haven Symphony, and Windsor Symphony in Ontario, Canada. |
| Trombone | |
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Dutch Ode - Grades 6-12 Dutch Ode has been teaching and playing trombone professionally for over 15 years. He has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master of Music in Trombone Performance from Texas Tech University. He has additional orchestral training as a fellowship recipient to the Interlochen National Music Camp, Brevard Music Festival, American Wind Symphony National Tour and the Las Vegas Music Festival. His principal mentors have been Fred "Moe" Snyder, Vernon Forbes, Craig Fuller, Tim Howe and Don Lucas. Dutch has been the designate Trombone Instructor for the Aledo ISD Private Enrichment Program since Spring 2007. His students at Aledo have garnered Region, Area and State accolades, and several students continue to play their instruments at the college/university level. In addition to his large studio at Aledo, Dutch is also the Low Brass Instructor at Tarleton State University and the Trombone Instructor at Weatherford College. He also teaches a limited number of students in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, Clebourne, and Weatherford school districts. Despite his busy teaching schedule, Dutch still finds time to perform regularly with the TSU Faculty Brass, DFW party band "Definitely Maybe", and the jazz septet "The Goatees". Dutch resides in Weatherford with his wife Leslie and daughter Allison.
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| Euphonium (Baritone)/Tuba | |
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Mario Morales - Grades 6-12, Tuba, Euphonium/Baritone Mario Morales is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in music education and has studied tuba/euphonium at the University of Texas at Arlington. He has been under the instruction of Ed Jones(Principal Tuba for Ft. worth Symphony) , Gary Smith (Temple College Low Brass Professor), Brent Colwell (Temple College Director of Bands) and Jon Mcphail (Band Director). Mario Morales has performed in many ensembles throughout the north Texas area. In addition, Mr. Morales has taught all across the north Texas area including Waxahachie, Ennis, Arlington, Ft. Worth, Desoto, Forney, Red Oak and Grand Prairie. He enjoys teaching sectionals, master classes as well as private lessons. Mario was a member of the Texas All-State Band in 2004 and also made the Junior College All-state Band in 2005. |
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Ray Murr - Grades 9-12, Tuba Ray Murr has been teaching private tuba and euphonium for 16 years. He holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Texas Wesleyan University and a Master’s of Music in Tuba Performance from Florida Atlantic University. After graduating, he was an assistant Band Director at North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, TX. Mr. Murr was also Tuba and Euphonium instructor for Texas Wesleyan University from 2001-2003 before moving to Pennsylvania for a few years. After moving back to Texas, he began working for Johnny Paul’s Music Shop as an educational representative and spends his days driving to area high school helping band directors.
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| Percussion | |
Joe Carpenter - Grades 6-12 Joe Carpenter is beginning his first year as a private percussion teacher for the Aledo ISD. He is also the drum instructor at Weatherford College in Weatherford, Tx. Mr. Carpenter has been teaching private lessons in the DFW area for 12 years. He earned a bachelors degree in music from Texas Wesleyan University, where he studied with Joe Ferraro and Mike Drake. In addition, he has also studied with world renowned drummers Butch Miles, Gary Chaffee, and Peter Erskine. As a freelance musician, Joe has performed with such groups as The Dallas Jazz Orchestra and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. He has toured with rock, country and contemporary praise and worship bands in cities all over the U.S. and Europe. |
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Todd Ukena - Grades 6-12 Todd Ukena is a composer and arranger of percussion literature and has been playing percussion since 1970. He received a B.M.E. degree from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, in 1980 studying under Mr. Eddie Lockhart. Later, he completed a M.M. Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Oklahoma in 1988 studying with Dr. Richard Gipson. Other post graduate work was done at the University of North Texas, studying under Ron Fink and Dr. Robert Schietroma. He now teaches in Weatherford, Texas, as Director of Music at Mary Martin Elementary School, front line percussion director of the Weatherford Kangaroos Marching Band, and from 2008-2010 as Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas. |