696 Homestead St., Lafayette CO, 80026
Instruments:Audio Recording, Composition, Conducting, Electronic, Musicology, Recording, Theory, Trumpet
Styles:Classical, Jazz, Blues, Kids, Electronic
Levels:Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Experience:20 years
Rate:$50 / hr
Personal Statement
Hello, my name is Ledama Tajeu. I hold two masters degrees in music; one is in arranging/jazz arranging, and the other is in instrumental music education. I also hold a bachelor’s degree in music technology.
My main instrument is trumpet, and I am comfortable teaching trumpet at any level. I was the instructor of record for the University of Alabama Jazz Combo (collegiate jazz combo) for 3 years, soloist in the University of Alabama One O-Clock Band, and graduate teaching assistant for the Jazz Studies Department. I would love to teach jazz improvisation, jazz theory, or jazz arranging. My musical experiences throughout my life and pension for school and learning, has made me a well-rounded musician and scholar.
I believe there are many ways to learn an instrument, depending on the child. Of course, certain fundamentals must be taught as a foundation but every individual feels music a little bit differently, and everyone’s bodies and brains function a little bit differently. Therefore, I try to instill correct technique, while also taking into consideration the physical and mental differences each student possesses.
I have taught trumpet lessons for over twenty years, and played many different styles professionally, including classical, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, electronic, blues, and Latin.
I am a huge proponent of learning to read musical notation, and while reading music certainly makes the life of a musician easier, and in many cases more rewarding, much will be lost if a budding musician relies too heavily on notation at the expense of the ear. Therefore, even while teaching instrumental lessons, I require students to sing, learn rudimentary theory, listen to instrumentalists performing at a high level, and attend live music events.