Christopher Orloske

I am a passionate music educator and clarinet performer with more than 15 years of international teaching experience spanning the United States and Taiwan. I hold a Master of Music in Music Education from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Central Connecticut State University. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to helping students of all ages develop strong musicianship, technical proficiency, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for music.

Since 2018, I have served as Head Band Director at Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School in Houston, Texas, where I lead over 200 students across multiple performing ensembles. My students have consistently performed at a high level, and I have created district-wide musical opportunities including a Solo & Ensemble Festival for elementary and middle school musicians. In 2023, I successfully guided the program to UIL varsity status, reflecting sustained growth and excellence. Our ensemble has also had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall through the Manhattan Concert Productions series.

My teaching experience also includes launching a middle school band program at International Leadership of Texas–Westpark, directing large middle school ensembles in Connecticut, and spending seven years teaching music and other academic subjects in Taiwan. These experiences have allowed me to work with students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and learning styles while developing an adaptable, encouraging, and student-centered teaching approach. In addition to my classroom experience, I have maintained an active performance career. I currently teach and perform through Katy Whole Note Music Studio and have performed with wind ensembles, chamber groups, jazz bands, marching bands, and solo settings throughout my musical career. My accomplishments include sponsoring the United States Navy Band for a performance at Meyerland PVA Middle School, receiving the Music Departmental Honors Award from Central Connecticut State University, and being selected for the world premiere of Nicholas Kenworthy-Browne's 'Étude for Solo Clarinet' at the International Chamber Music Festival in Stamford, England.

My lessons focus is on building excellent fundamentals while keeping learning engaging and enjoyable. Whether you are a beginning clarinetist, an advancing student preparing for auditions or honor bands, or an adult returning to music, I tailor every lesson to your individual goals. I strive to create a positive, supportive environment where students gain confidence, develop strong practice habits, and experience the joy of making music.

Each student learns differently depending on their preferred style of acquiring knowledge. Many students experience instruction through the integration of kinesthetic, oral and visual means. Learning online through Lessonface will have to focus mainly on oral and visual means due to the learning platform. This is not a limitation but rather a pivot of instructional focus. With personal clarinet demonstrations and sharing screens to highlight music and/or targeted fundamentals, students will be able to understand not just how to play songs but rather learn how to command the clarinet with meaningful musical expression with balanced technique. Overall, the goal is to use the clarinet as an extension of one’s own musical voice.

In addition, I offer the outside options to record oneself for further feedback. While this requires unpaid time outside of the lesson, I do believe a consistent quality connection toward excellence music making is the goal and thus this approach to further feedback is necessary.