Rocco Carioto
About
Hello there. I am excited that you are looking to enter the exciting world of music. Learning an instrument improves your life in so many ways. As a student it helps you become a better student. It is a skill set you can use in high school , college and beyond. Indeed many of my students who are in my band program graduate high school and have received grants and scholarships because of their musical ability to help pay for college. It is another tool to help students pay for school. Music is a great stress reliever. It is a special gift you can give to others your entire life. I am 62 and I still perform with many groups . I myself have been an elementary and high school band director for close to 30 years. It never gets old because I love seeing students succeed and see their confidence grow from year to year. The best part of it is making music ! It's one thing to listen to music and entirely other thing to MAKE IT ! It is it's only language that only 1% of a school can share in. You make new friends , life long friends in music . I hope to see you soon as a student who loves to play.
Sincerely,
Mr. Carioto ( Mr. C)
I approach in one simple way. Music has to fun ! In 30 years of teaching that has been my secret. I have students all over the country in colleges performing on concert bands and marching bands and using their musical skills in many ways such as paying for school, some who I began teaching in the 4th grade. Some I have even attended their weddings. Music is a part of everyday life and I try to make it a part of my students daily lives.
I have been a high school and college band director at Bishop Noll Institute High School in Hammond, Indiana. I teach marching band, concert band, jazz band, mariachi band, Rock Band , brass ensemble and choir. I have taken my bands on tours of NYC including a performance in 2018 at Carnegie Hall and my Marching Warriors have won awards for Major parades and Bowl games including the Chicago Thanksgiving Day parades, Columbus Day parades, St. Patrick's parades and awards at the the Liberty and Outback Bowl games for marching band, concert band and jazz band. I also have taught jazz band at Purdue University Northwest on the college level. During the week I also teach 3 elementary beginning and advanced band programs that are feeder schools for Bishop Noll. I begin my students as early as 3rd grade.
It depends on the level of the student. When I see where a student is I can recommend any of a number of method books I have used.