AMP Trombone Teaching Artist Marc Boehm with student Makeda Freer. Photo by Averil Taylor

AMP Student-Teaching Artist Corner
Makeda Freer, Trombone Student

Age: 12
Joined AMP: 2010
Instrument: viola for two years, now trombone since September 2013
Why the trombone: Unique instrument, easy to hold because I’m tall! Making a sound came easy to me.
How it’s been studying with Mr. Marc: A nice experience. He has taught me the basics really well and says that I’m his fastest learner, which gives me a lot of confidence!
What do you admire about Mr. Marc’s trombone playing: he has a great tone quality and the way he moves his slide is very connected, and he always plays in tune.
AMP is a rigorous program, why do you attend? Because it’s a good place to start a music career. But I’m also interested in being a psychologist. I also like the music selections that we perform.
Favorite piece on the upcoming holiday concert: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, because there’s a trombone solo!

Note from Dantes: you can see Makeda performing with the AMP Gilbert House-South Bend Orchestra this Saturday December 14, 2013 at 12:00PM at the Rosel Fann Recreation Center 365 Cleveland Ave SE Atlanta, GA 30354

Trombone Teaching Artist Marc Boehm leading trombone students during a brass sectional at AMP’s South Bend site. Trumpet Teaching Artist John Bryant is working with trumpet student.

AMP Student-Teaching Artist Corner
Marc Boehm, Trombone Teaching Artist

Age started playing trombone: 12
Schools Attended: Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School, Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music
Joined AMP: 2011
Enjoy teaching at AMP because: great to work with students that really have the passion and drive for music. It is very gratifying for me to work with students that otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to have this type of daily intensive music instruction.
When Makeda joined his AMP trombone studio: September 2013
How Makeda is progressing on trombone: she has shown a lot of progress since starting a few months ago. She is much more comfortable on the instrument and plays very expressively. My main focus has been to get her to play with a consistent, beautiful sound.
On Makeda’s leadership development: she is much more willing to help others when she sees that they need help. She is taking a leadership role in my studio, and I’m very happy to see it!