Nova Ren Masters

I have been teaching woodwinds, composition, theory, and music production since 2008. I have worked with students of all ages and all experience levels and I believe that anyone and everyone can learn to make beautiful music. In my lessons, I help students set goals for themselves and to have fun achieving them. I like to emphasize creativity and personal expression and I often help my students compose original music. I think learning music is similar to learning a language and music theory is the grammar of that language. If you know the grammar of music, you can apply it to any genre and playing style.

For woodwind students, I use a framework I call “The Three T’s”, or Tone, Time, and Technique. Tone is certainly the most important of these and I teach my students many approaches to tone building, including playing long tones with drones (for pitch reference), overtones, and breathing techniques to increase lung capacity. Time is one of the first things that is perceived in music and the development of good time is often overlooked. I have found that students struggle with knowing how to use a metronome to their benefit, and I like to focus on things like playing along with a students favorite recorded music, and even recording themselves playing along so they can hear and adjust. I have found recording to be one of the most efficient and valuable tools for progress. Technique encompasses a huge amount of subjects, from reading music to the specific challenges of each instrument. Scales and arpeggios, improvisation, and sight reading are huge parts of how I approach technique with my students. I have helped my woodwind students learn Jazz, Classical, Rock, Pop, and much more. I challenge my students to stretch themselves in their ability to read music, learn music by ear, and improvise. I have coached students through All District and All State auditions. A current saxophone student of mine even made second chair All District as a ninth grader.

I strongly believe that all music students should have some basic understanding of how to use a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW aka recording/music production software). In many ways, learning to produce in a DAW is like learning many instruments and music theory at the same time. Many of my students have experienced a lot of joy in learning to produce their own original music. Additionally, I believe that knowing how to record yourself playing your instrument is an invaluable skill for modern musicians. I use Ableton Live, Logic X, Garage Band, and CakeWalk with my students currently, and can work with students of any experience level, including students who have never played another instrument and have no music experience.

Music Qualifications & Achievements:

I have a Bachelors in Music from the University of Mary Washington.

I have had the great joy of getting to perform all over the United States and in Germany. I have played with so many musicians and have gotten to perform just about every genre imaginable. I’ve been featured on a number of professional recordings, and I have released an EP of my original music.

I have been collaborating with Next Reflex Dance company since 2013, and with them I have had the opportunity to perform at the White Wave Dance Festival in NYC as well as at the National Portrait Gallery and the Harmon Center in Washington D.C. For me, there is no greater privilege than working with dancers and creating the music that they move so beautifully and gracefully to.