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United States of America
I'm Assistant Professor of Clarinet at Boston University, founder of The Clarinet Sessions, author of Advanced Clarinet Studies.
The love for teaching runs in my family, and I'm no exception. I began teaching when I was still in high school and have continued, uninterrupted ever since. The quest to become a great teacher has run parallel with my performing career. I have found that finding my own path in performing has informed my teaching and that teaching has forced me to clarify my thoughts.
I've had the great fortune to study with three of the most incredible people and clarinet teachers. The way that I teach is very much a synthesis of what they have passed down to me. When I was in high school Richie Hawley awakened an incredible curiosity and passion in me. He taught me to see music as a noble and spiritual path and to always seek to serve the music. I find that his insuppressible enthusiasm and creativity are a regular part of how I teach. I was always so inspired by Richie that I decided that I absolutely had to study with his teachers. So, after my formal period of studying with Richie (I still consider myself to be a student), I attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA where I studied with Donald Montanaro. I can't begin to describe the effect of my years with Don had on me. Most importantly, he instilled in me an appreciation for a beautiful sound and vocal approach to the instrument. Just as importantly, especially for my teaching, was how he and Mark Jacobi taught me how the equipment functions. If you don't understand your equipment, you will never be aware fully of the possibilities. Lastly, my time in LA with Yehuda Gilad was so important to me for how it allowed me to bring everything together. He patiently guided me through how to execute all my musical ideas, and he has probably had the biggest influence on how I teach.
The goal of my teaching is to show you how to master the clarinet to allow you to fully serve the music. Mastering the clarinet in this case should not be understood to be a process separate from music, during this process we will work the grammar of music and how to create a beautiful sound. The idea is to create technical freedom that unlocks your musical voice, not to create technique for technique's sake.
I always try to hold the student to the highest standards, but work hard to create a sense of possibility. One of the most important things I noticed while studying with Richie and Yehuda was that after a lesson I couldn't wait to go practice, anything anything felt possible. It is my goal to synthesize the old-school discipline that I learned at Curtis with a positive and inspiring approach. I have also been very immersed in the study of psychology over the past 13 years and am completing psychoanalysis currently. I find that the depth to which I've immersed myself in this area has had huge benefits to my students. You are ultimately only as talented and successful as your image of yourself allows you to be, and working through psychological blocks can yield incredible results.
I am a Buffet-Crampon and D'Addario performing artist and clinician.
For a full biography and to find out more about me, please visit www.robwpatterson.com
Experience & Education
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The Curtis Institute of Music 2003 – 2007
B.M.Studied with Donald Montanaro. -
The University of Southern California 2007 – 2009
M.M.Studied with Yehuda Gilad. -
The Baltimore Symphony 2015 – 2016
Acting Principal ClarinetCan be heard on the NAXOS recording with Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony playing the complete Romeo and Juliet Ballet. -
The Louisville Orchestra 2017 – 2018
Acting Principal Clarinet -
The University of Virginia 2012 – 2015
Lecturer in clarinet -
The Charlottesville Symphony 2012 – 2015
Principal Clarinet -
Boston University 2019 – Present
Assistant Professor of Clarinet -
The Clarinet Sessions 2020 – Present
Founder -
Lyrique en Mer 2012 – 2015
Principal ClarinetPrincipal Clarinet of the Opera festival orchestra on the French Island of Belle Ile en Mer.
Reviews
Ben Martel
December
I took weekly lessons with Rob Patterson for over 5 years when I was in high school. Rob is an incredible teacher who helped me drastically elevate and improve my musicianship. Rob is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, well-spoken, and professional. He gives very valuable, detailed advice that is easy to understand and implement. Rob is a great teacher and a fantastic mentor who I highly recommend, especially for any young aspiring musician looking to take their playing to the next level.
Anke Walter
October
Taking lessons with Mr. Patterson is both a great pleasure and an amazing learning experience. I was very fortunate to be taking private lessons with Mr. Patterson from 2015 to 2016. Since I was still fairly new to the clarinet, Mr. Patterson first made sure to give me a very firm grounding in basic technique, such as tone, tonguing or scales, while constantly pointing out the musical benefits and connecting these basics with the music I was working on at the time. What I very much enjoyed about the lessons with Mr. Patterson was the great deal of attention he payed to the very details of the music and my playing, and the way he connected these with larger musical issues. He always expressed both very eloquently and in memorable terms which I still keep in mind and still find helpful. Needless to say, I learned an enormous amount from Mr. Patterson about both clarinet technique and music in general.
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