"I lived in China for 11 years after arriving in 2013 with Peace Corps, then taught music in Mandarin at Sichuan Conservatory from 2015-2024 and performed and lectured professionally throughout. I am currently a PhD candidate at University of Pittsburgh, specializing in jazz history.

Prior to China, I earned my secondary music educational teaching credential at SJSU in 2010, and taught in high schools as well as privately from 2008-2013. BA Music, UCSC 2006.

Currently, when I'm not busy studying and writing, as PhDs necessitate, I teach private lessons on saxophone and flute to kids and adults. I also do a good deal of consulting for college and graduate school admissions. I help students craft and edit their SOPs, college essays, prepare for interviews, and make intelligent college admissions selections. I have been doing that for the last 6 years.

I love teaching and believe deeply in the positive and transformative power of education. My experience traveling the world and living abroad taught me a lot about respect for others and the richness and diversity of different cultures. I hope to bring that experience to meet students where they are, expand their knowledge and help them to realize their full potential. I am endlessly curious, and a lifelong learner.

For my research, I do a lot of reading on history (US and world), politics, sociology and English literature, so I feel quite confident tutoring on those topics as well.

Fluent in Mandarin, though of course my wife is better." less...