Guitarist
Ben Westfall loves teaching music. He loves connecting
students with the centuries old tradition that he has spent years
studying: playing the guitar.
Ben studied
the classical guitar at CCM, the University of Cincinnati
College-Conservatory of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music
in Classical Guitar Performance. Ben's music studies at the
conservatory trained him to understand the history, performance
and theory behind music. This miles-deep knowledge of music
from the Renaissance forward gives Ben an advantageous perspective
for passing along the craft of music
making to his students.
CCM was so
impressed with Ben's teaching ability that he was offered a job as
an instructor for guitar in the Preparatory Department of CCM,
where he specialized in teaching young beginners. Ben's
experience as a father has given him a unique ability to connect
with children.
Ben has
performed as a soloist throughout the Midwest. He was a featured
artist at the 2008 Mills Brothers' Scholarship fundraising
concert, and can be heard on New York City based songwriter and
playwright Todd Almond's album, Mexico City.
And Ben
knows all the chords.
Flutist
and Pianist
Kristin Paxinos brings a lifetime of dedicated study and a mastery
of technique, theory
and musicianship to every lesson.
Kristin’s conservatory training at Indiana University and
DePaul University prepared her for professional performance at
the highest levels: she
has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and Chicago
Symphony Center with top tier orchestras such as the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
Her technical
and musical mastery enable Kristin to teach her students by
example. She inspires
her students. She
nurtures her students. She
demands excellence of her students.
Kristin
emphasizes the basics, technique and theory, as a foundation from
which to learn music. Along
with the pure mechanics of sound production, she engages her
students in learning to interpret the music – to make music –
by learning to phrase properly, to play with good sound and to use
dynamics to good effect.
Kristin has
taught private and group lessons to students of all ages and
playing levels: children to adults; beginners to college students.
Kristin’s personal enthusiasm and love for the music motivate
her students.
And Kristin
knows all the notes.
