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PRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons are the single greatest investment that a parent can make in their child’s musical career, especially in band! Private Lessons allow for students an uninterrupted, individualized instructed lesson from a master teacher and player of their instrument. Students who are in lessons progress through the band curriculum much faster, and with more comprehension and understanding than other students. The best thing about private lessons is that they are completely focused on each student's learning and growth. If your student wants to learn above and beyond what their band class is doing, private lessons are the perfect way to encourage that extra growth. Private lessons are the #1 way for students to "get ahead" in learning and excelling on their instrument. ​
Invest in your child’s education from the beginning in order for them to have the greatest opportunity for music success in band! Below is a list of private lessons teachers that are hired and recommended by the JJ Pearce Cluster Band Staff to teach our students. Please contact them directly to schedule and setup lessons.
HOW DO LESSONS WORK?
Lessons occur once a week and cost only $22 per lesson. Lessons can either occur before school or after school at either Parkhill JH, JJ Pearce, North JH, or at the private teacher’s home.
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Your weekly lesson time and location is figured out with the lesson teacher. While the band directors may be able to assist, most of the lesson process is handled directly with the lesson staff!
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** If you ever have trouble getting in contact with a lesson staff member, please contact the directors immediately to let us know. We can help!**
SIGN-UP TODAY!
Below you will find the contact information for our private lesson staff. These teachers have advanced music degrees and have been thoroughly interviewed and vetted by the Parkhill and JJ Pearce band staff as well as Richardson ISD. If you would like to schedule private lessons for your child, please reach out to the teacher listed for the instrument that your child plays! If you have questions about the private lesson program or about lesson scholarships, please contact Mrs. Boltman at lauren.boltman@risd.org.
Meet the Lesson Teachers
Hannah Peterson
flute
Hannah Peterson is a Dallas-based flutist, teacher, and music theorist. Originally from Athens, GA, Ms. Peterson began playing flute in the 6th grade with no prior musical experience. She earned her Bachelor's in both Flute Performance and Music Theory from the University of Georgia, where she studied with Angela Jones-Reus. She moved to Dallas in 2020 to pursue a dual Master's in both Flute Performance and Music Theory Pedagogy. There she studied with Jean Larson Garver and Deborah Baron, both of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Ms. .Peterson currently plays flute and piccolo for the Lone Star Wind Orchestra and has also performed with the McKinney Philharmonic, East Texas Symphony, Opera Arlington Orchestra, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, she has been a finalist in both National Flute Association and Texas Flute Society competitions. Most recently, she placed 3rd in the prestigious Myrna Brown Competition in 2024. Her other primary teachers include Terri Sundberg and Rachel Simmons.
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Ms. Peterson currently serves as the flute lesson teacher for both the Lake Highlands and JJ Pearce cluster in Richardson ISD, where she holds a studio of around 55. She has previously taught in the Garland, Carrolton, Dallas, and Aubrey ISD's. Her students have seen a lot of success, both inside and outside of RISD. They have regularly earned spots and won both the Lake Highlands and Pearce cluster concerto competitions. Ms. Peterson has had students selected for TMEA Region, Area and Allstate Bands. She also encourages her students to get involved in music outside of school, and they have performed with the SMU Young Artist Flute Choir, Greater North Texas Youth Orchestra, Lone Star Youth Winds, and Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra.
oboe
Bethany Ham
Bethany Ham is a freelance oboist and teacher based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A Lubbock native from a musical family, she found her true passion in the oboe after trying many instruments. Before returning to Texas in 2022, she performed with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, while also serving as Office Manager for the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association.
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She has since performed with groups including the Lubbock Symphony, Tulsa Symphony, and the Dallas Winds, and maintains a busy private lesson studio across the metroplex. Bethany holds degrees in Oboe Performance from Southern Methodist University (BM) and Florida State University (MM), where she studied with top professionals from the Dallas and Tallahassee Symphonies. She loves sharing her passion for music and helping students grow as musicians.
bassoon
Leslie Massenburg
Leslie Massenburg is one of the most sought-after bassoonists and contrabassoonists in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. A graduate of JJ Pearce High School, she was drum major, band president, a member of the state honor band, the Pearce Acapella choir, the tennis team, and Pacesetters.
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Leslie has frequently performed and toured with the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras and has played much of the recent season with the Dallas Opera Orchestra. She holds principal bassoon positions with the Dallas Chamber Symphony, Plano Symphony, and Irving Symphony, is second bassoon with the Richardson Symphony, and plays contrabassoon with the Dallas Winds and East Texas Symphony.
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This past semester, Leslie served as bassoon professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. She is passionate about education and outreach, regularly performing with Texas Winds and presenting to schoolchildren before their symphony visits. Her large private bassoon studio boasts many students who have earned full scholarships to top music programs nationwide.
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Leslie’s playing can be heard on Grammy-nominated albums with the Dallas Winds, live recordings with the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphonies, a video game soundtrack, and the Dallas Chamber Symphony’s Chasing Home album featuring Appalachian Spring.
Joshua Partridge
clarinet
Clarinetist Joshua Partridge has performed across the United States and Europe. A frequent soloist, he has appeared in summer concert series with the American Guild of Organists (USA) and at Ely Cathedral (England), performing multiple concerti. He also represented the United States as a featured performer at the University of Oslo’s International Cultural Evening.
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As a founding member of the 4CRNRS clarinet quartet, Joshua is dedicated to expanding the repertoire for clarinet ensembles and has premiered new works throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The group recently won the George Papich Chamber Music Competition and maintained an active outreach and performance schedule over the past year.
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Joshua has collaborated with Grammy-winning and -nominated artists including Hila Plitmann, Kurt Elling, Wycliffe Gordon, Wynton Marsalis, and Joe Gransden. His primary teachers include Kimberly Cole-Luevano, Lisa Oberlander, and Gregory Raden.
clarinet
Logan Miller
Logan Miller is a Dallas-based clarinetist and San Antonio native, actively performing and teaching throughout the DFW area. As a dedicated freelancer and educator, he currently serves on the faculty of The St. Mark’s School of Texas, Richardson ISD, Waxahachie ISD, and The Episcopal School of Dallas. His students consistently achieve recognition at the Region, Area, and All-State levels.
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Logan holds a Performer’s Diploma and Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from Southern Methodist University, where he studied under Steve Ahearn and Paul Garner of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He also earned a Bachelor of Music from Texas Tech University, studying with Dr. David Shea and Dr. Elisa Montoya.
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An active performer, Logan’s engagements include appearances with the Sarasota Opera, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Arlington, The Garland Symphony, ensembleNEWSRQ, and The Meadows Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Each summer, he performs with the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra.
saxophone
Dylan Stepherson
Dylan Stepherson began his musical journey as a clarinetist in 6th grade and transitioned to alto saxophone in 7th. By the time he graduated high school, Dylan was proficient in playing the three commonly used saxophones in wind band and had made Texas history by placing first chair on all three saxophones in three consecutive years for the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble (Baritone, Tenor and Alto in that order).
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He earned his bachelor’s in music education from Texas Christian University, studying saxophone with Joe Eckert and clarinet with Gary Whitman. Dylan has performed with groups such as the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, McKinney Dance Band, Ron Lawrence and Sazeracs, the TCU Wind Symphony as Principal, and Assistant Principal Saxophone in TCU's Jazz Ensemble I as the Baritone Saxophonist. A skilled woodwind doubler, he regularly performs in church gigs, pit orchestras, and jazz bands, and has shared the stage with Rufus Reid, Lee Greenwood, Bobby Shew, Ron Lawrence, Joe Eckert, Duffy Jackson, Jens Lindemann, Pacho Flores, Boston Brass and Galen Jeter.
Since 2018, his students have consistently earned top honors in All-State ensembles—many as 1st chair—as well as All-Region, UIL Solo & Ensemble, TSSEC, and chamber festivals.
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Mr. Stepherson lives in Sherman, TX, and performs with the Bonham Big Band and TNT, a 70s/80s tribute rock band.
trumpet
Woody Yenne
Originally from Dallas and a proud graduate of Bryan Adams High School, Woody earned a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA (class of 1983—yes, that long ago!).
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After graduating, he spent several years as a contract musician, performing regularly with orchestras including the Colorado Springs Symphony from 1983 to 1990. In the summer of 1990, Woody returned home to the Dallas area, where he became a staple in the local music scene, performing with orchestras such as Richardson, Garland, and East Texas Symphonies. He also appeared as an extra or substitute with nearly every professional orchestra in the DFW area, including the Dallas Symphony during the early to mid-1990s.
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Though now retired from performing, teaching has always been his true passion. With over 45 years of experience teaching trumpet, Woody has helped shape the careers of countless students. Many have gone on to become professional performers, with some even holding faculty positions at prestigious institutions like Indiana University and Ball State University.
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Woody is incredibly proud of all his former and current students—no matter where their paths have taken them.
french horn
Jackson Ward
Jackson Ward was born and raised in Plano, Texas, where he began playing French horn at age 11 in the Murphy Middle School Band. At Plano East Senior High, he developed a love for both marching band and orchestral music, performing with the Lone Star Youth Winds and the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. He studied throughout high school with Stuart Womble of the Irving and Richardson Symphonies.
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Jackson received a dual bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Horn Performance at Southern Methodist University, where he studied with Haley Hoops, David Heyde, and Gregory Hustis of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. While at SMU, he performed in the Mustang Marching Band, Meadows Wind Ensemble, Meadows Symphony Orchestra, and the contemporary music ensemble SYZYGY. He has also played on professional recordings for two video game soundtracks.
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In addition to performing, Jackson has taught at middle school band camps in Plano and provided private lessons at the Townview School in Dallas. He’s passionate about sharing his love of music and always looks forward to growing alongside his students.
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Dawson Ward
trombone
Mr. Ward is originally from Rockwall Texas, where he first began to love the trombone in his middle school bands. He then continued playing into High school where he performed for the All State bands and orchestras from 2015-2018. After high school, Mr. Ward went to school at Baylor University, where he studied under professor Brent Phillips. At Baylor, Mr. Ward was involved in the Baylor Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and many different chamber groups. This is also where Mr. Ward began teaching several high school and middle school students. Now he is here in the Dallas area, trying to spread his passion for music and education while he works on professional auditions for various orchestras and wind ensembles.
Seth Shaffer
tuba
Dr. Shaffer is the Tuba and Euphonium Instructor for the J.J. Pearce and Lake Highlands band clusters in Richardson ISD. He is a graduate of Texas Christian University (BME), University of California Los Angeles (MM), and Texas Tech University (DMA) and has taught private lessons since 2014. Dr. Shaffer currently performs with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra.
His students have won numerous accolades, including placement into TMEA All-State Bands and Orchestras, All-Region Bands, and World Class drum corps. In his spare time, Dr. Shaffer enjoys video games, reading, and running. He lives in Carrollton with his wife, Rose, and cat, Patches.
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percussion
Cameron Zawadzki
Cameron Zawadzki is a recent graduate from Texas A&M in Commerce where he earned his Bachelor of Music Performance. At TAMUC he studied under Dr. Brian Zator, Sandi Rennick, Kent Hillman, and Cory Doran. During his time at the university he was able to perform with the Pride Marching Band, Percussion Ensembles, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Panamation Steel Drum Ensemble.
Mr. Zawadzki participated in numerous extracurriculars and competitions throughout his time at Texas A&M in Commerce. In 2017, he placed first in the P.A.S.I.C. Collegiate marimba competition. In 2018, he marched with the Santa Clara Vanguard and won the DCI World Championship as well as the Fred Sanford high percussion award. In 2019, he won the TAMUC Concerto Competition and got to play Gillingham’s Concerto No.2 for Marimba and Wind Ensemble with the TAMUC Wind Ensemble.
Michael Ptacin
percussion
Michael Ptacin, DMA, is a percussionist and educator living in Dallas, Texas. In addition to their private lesson studio, Michael teaches applied percussion at Collin College - Spring Creek and has been a percussion consultant for several schools over the years. Michael maintains an active performance schedule as a drum set player and percussionist for musical theater throughout DFW including theaters such as Dallas Theater Center, Uptown Players, Lyric Stage, and WaterTower Theatre. In addition to performing, their work with theaters includes programming synthesizers and MainStage, as well as setting up and instructing others in the use of MainStage, Logic, and Ableton Live. They have performed as a soloist with the UNCG Symphony Orchestra, Greensboro Concert Band, at Lawrence University and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. As an ensemble member, Michael performed with the North Carolina Brass Band, Gate City Percussion Ensemble, Salisbury Symphony, and the world-renowned Dallas Winds. They are a woodworker and craftsperson, specializing in building and repairing musical instruments and accessories, and their work can be found in schools, colleges, churches, and the inventory of professional musicians and performance ensembles.
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