Marlette ReD
Raider Bands
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Online Private Instruction
Through music, and diverse instruction, Marlette's band program enables students to leave with many tools in their belts to become successful. One of the most useful and beneficial things is to seek private instruction. Your son or daughter has access to outstanding specialists that give online instruction from the comfort of their homes to yours. All of the teachers have been legally screened, and they all have outstanding resumes, bringing a diverse wealth of knowledge to the table.
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No matter what your age level, our staff is equipped to work with you or your child. Ages 5th grade through 12th grade.
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Please take advantage of their advice and instruction on a regular basis. If you cannot afford private lessons, which are set at $20 per half-hour, you can join us for school-sponsored sectionals under their guidance and instruction.
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Lessons are set up by the enrollee at a time that is convenient. Once a week, or as needed, we will offer a free, Marlette band sponsored sectional, where all people in each section can meet to discuss technique and music by grade level.
Meet Our Instructional Staff
Flute/Piccolo
Misty Kruse
Misty has been been teaching private flute lessons for over 20 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Psychology from Alma College and a Master in Social Work from Wayne State University. She plays with the SC4 community band and is second flute/piccolo in the International Symphony Orchestra.
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"Although I prefer to teach my students in a face to face setting, I have enjoyed teaching virtual flute lessons over Zoom and FaceTime since the pandemic started. My philosophy about private lessons is that I wish to create a space that we can make music together, improve on aspects of flute playing that you’d like to improve on, and enjoy our time together. My goal is to help you be the best flute player that you would like to be.
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I believe that private lessons are for all levels of players. Whether you are just getting started on the flute, or are struggling to sound the way you want to sound, or are an already accomplished flutist who wishes to get even better, I will meet you where you are at and help you reach your goals. "
Clarinet
Ricci Turner
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Ms. Ricci Turner is a graduate of Central Michigan University where she earned her Bachelor Degree in Music Education and studied clarinet with Dr. Kennen White. In the School of Music, Ms. Turner participated in Marching Band, Chamber Ensembles, a woodwind quintet, a flute and clarinet duo group, clarinet quartet, various concert bands, and orchestra. Both her woodwind quintet and clarinet quartet were featured on several woodwind area recitals, and her clarinet quartet was asked to perform on the Honors Recital in which Ms. Turner was the main soloist. Ms. Turner was also the Eb Clarinet Player for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble under the director of Mr. John Williamson. Aside from her performance ensembles, Ms. Turner took an active role in Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity, the Study Abroad Alumni Group, and the collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Educators.
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Immediately following graduation, Ms. Turner began working in the Algonac Community Schools District as the 6th-12th grade Band Director. As a graduate of Algonac High School herself, Ms. Turner was excited to continue the traditions of the band program. In her five years of teaching, Ms. Turner has created many new experiences for her students. The Marching Band has received a 1st division rating, the High School Symphonic Band has received straight 1’s at District Band Festival for two years in a row, the jazz band has performed at local fundraisers and events, a portion of the marching band has traveled to CMU for CMU Band Day, and much more! After Ms. Turner’s second year of teaching, she has also added Choir to her teaching schedule.
Ms. Ricci Turner teaches private clarinet lessons on the side and enjoys working with students. Ms. Turner lives in Ira, Michigan with her cat, Mozart, and her dog, Ava. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts, reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family!
Saxophone
Robert Krueger
Robert Krueger is an active saxophonist and music educator based out of Auburn Hills and Port Huron, Michigan.
Robert has given performances as a soloist and as a chamber musician throughout Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, and West Virginia. While studying at Eastern Michigan University, Robert was an active member in several ensembles. Some of his highlights include being the Center Tenor Drummer in the EMU Drumline, the Principal Saxophonist in the EMU Wind Symphony, and the Soprano Saxophonist in the EMU Emerald Saxophone Quartet. In 2016, he performed and presented research on Jacob Ter Veldhuis's, The Garden of Love for Soprano Saxophone & Soundtrack, at the EMU Undergraduate Symposium. During his senior year, Mr. Krueger received 1st place in the William Stewart Undergraduate Concerto Competition and was invited to play John Mackey's, Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, with the EMU Wind Symphony as a featured soloist. Recently, Mr. Krueger gave the world premiere of Caleb Hammer's, Spiritual Awakening: Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, in May 2018.
Robert is currently the Director of Bands at Fort Gratiot Middle School in Port Huron, Michigan. He holds a degree in K-12 Music Education from Eastern Michigan University and is currently working on his Masters Degree in Saxophone Performance and Conducting at Oakland University. His primary teachers include Dr. Woody Chenoweth and Dr. Jeffery Heisler.
Trumpet
Joshua Wagner
Mr. Wagner is in high demand as a trumpet player, clinician, soloist, and teacher. From the beginning he set himself apart from his peers with his beautiful sound, musicality, and strong upper register.
A Michigan native living in Traverse City, he specializes in performing as a musician for musicals including being 1st trumpet on the national tour of Bullets Over Broadway: The Musical and serving as a substitute trumpet for NETWorks Touring. In addition to his vast freelance work Mr. Wagner has performed with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, Bay Area Big Band, Traverse Symphony Orchestra, Traverse Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet, Judy Harrison & Swing Shift, Interlochen Brass Faculty Ensemble, Encore Winds, Round Oak Cornet Band, Edgar Struble & Friends, Southwestern Michigan College Brass Band, Falcone Festival Band, Falcone Festival Orchestra, Blue Lake Faculty Brass Ensemble, Blue Lake Faculty Jazz Septet, Café Cubano, Twin Cities Jazz Orchestra, La Porte County Symphony Orchestra, Al Cobine Big Band, Keith Karns Big Band, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, David N. Baker Jazz Ensemble, Latin American Popular Music Ensemble, Brent Wallarab Jazz Ensemble, CMU Jazz Lab 1, CMU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band.
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Mr. Wagner has studied with Dennis Horton, Jay Crouch, Danny Barber, Mike Williams, Robbie Smith, Wayne Bergeron, Kevin Good, Pat Harbison, David Baker, Vince DiMartino, and Joey Tartell.
He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Central Michigan University and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies & Trumpet from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he was the recipient of the Jamey & Sara Aebersold Jazz Studies Fellowship.
​Mr. Wagner is a Conn-Selmer Endorsed Performing Artist playing on Bach Stradivarius Trumpets, Cornets, and Flugelhorns.
Horn
Lisa Fink
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Lisa has been playing horn professionally and teaching private lessons for the past ten years. She has a Bachelors in Music Education from Michigan State University and a Masters in Horn Performance from the University of Akron, Ohio. She plays with the Canton Symphony Orchestra and the Akron Symphony, as well as with City Music Cleveland. Her career has taken her throughout the Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia regions. She currently teaches horn at the Aurora School of Music and spent a year on faculty at the University of Akron.
Low Brass
(Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba)
Dr. Jessica Cates
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Jessica Cates is an active trombone player and low brass teacher. During the past
decade and spanning over 5 states, she has held principal trombone positions in
several regional orchestras and has worked with The Boston Philharmonic and
Josh Groban. In addition to her orchestral work, she has performed with numer-
ous theatre companies in Michigan and the East Coast.
Bassoon
Alan Jacobus
Alan Jacobus has been actively involved in music education for over 40 years.
He received his B.M.E. degree from the University of Kentucky, and has done graduate work at the University of Illinois, Western Michigan University, Ball State University, and Central Michigan University.
Mr. Jacobus is recently retired from 41 teaching in Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. For the past 20 years, he was Director of Bands for the Les Cheneaux Community Schools in Cedarville. During that time his bands consistently earned superior performance ratings at district, state, and national band festivals. They performed at Carnegie Hall, the Michigan Music Conference, and at the Australian International Band Festival in Sydney, where they were awarded the gold medal as the most outstanding band. The band was also selected to perform in the People’s Republic of China as part of a cultural exchange program. The Les Cheneaux Community School District was named as one of “Best Communities for Music Education” by the NAMM Foundation four times. Also in 2014, the Cedarville High School Band was awarded the Michigan Award of Excellence by the American School Band Directors Association for continued excellence in music education and performance.
Mr. Jacobus has been recognized twice by Who’s Who in American Education, and has been named to the USA TODAY All-American Teacher Team as an outstanding national educator. In 2005, he was named as the Michigan Band Teacher of the Year. He has served in several officer positions at the district and state level of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, and has served on the conducting faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He is an emeritus member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and the American School Band Directors Association.
String Bass
Andrew Lloyd
Andrew Lloyd is an active performer and advocate of both symphonic and jazz music in southeast Michigan and southwest Ontario. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Wayne State University with an emphasis in jazz studies. Andrew has studied the double bass with Dan Pliskow and Maxim Janowsky at Wayne State University, and with John Repucci, and Bruce Gertz at Berklee College of Music.
As a private instructor, Andrew's specialty is working with beginning students, developing the foundational skills and techniques needed to play the double bass. Emphasis is placed on developing a responsible approach to ensemble participation and being a team player with special focus on overall musicality. Lessons are bi-weekly and available in hour or half hour increments.
Percussion
Mike List
Mike List is a globalized percussionist based out of Metro Detroit playing both western and non-western instruments from around the globe. His performances have ranged from world music fusion in bars, contemporary music in art spaces, tabla in church services, and classical music in punk anarchist communes. Some projects he has worked with include 'Rela’ (percussion quartet), 'Nessa' (Celtic fusion), ‘Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet’ (world music fusion), CutTime Simfonica (string quartet), 'Inscribe' (avant-garde world jazz), ‘Wisaal’ (Mediterranean fusion), and “To Hit’ (Percussion duet). Mike holds a Master of Music and Bachelor of Music in percussion performance from Central Michigan University and has also studied tabla, mbira, and Arabic percussion. Along with performing, Mike teaches privately, accompanies modern dance, and teaches courses on the ‘History of Rock and Roll’ and ‘World Music.’