Trevor Morris
About
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me! I had an interest in education at a young age. After heart surgery left me unable to participate in sports or recess in the fifth grade, I became a teacher’s assistant, and my love for teaching began to blossom. In the sixth grade, I began playing the viola. I went on to become viola section leader in high school. My high school orchestra director Heather Grier (world-renowned violinist and frequent performer with Andrea Bocelli) inspired me to pursue music education as a career. I began attending the Ybor City campus of Hillsborough Community College in 2008, which is also the year I began teaching music lessons full-time. I became active in student government, went on to become Music Club President, and subsequently won an Outstanding Student Leadership Award in 2011. After earning my AA in Music, I moved on to the University of South Florida in 2011, where I played viola in the symphony orchestra and in several string quartets. I studied music education extensively and studied orchestral conducting with Dr. William Weidrich. Afte robtaining my Bachelors in Music from USF in 2013, I taught masterclasses in several middle, elementary, and high schools. I was briefly the music teacher at Westshore Elementary School before transitioning back into private lessons. I pivoted my career to food service management for five years from 2, learning valuable customer service and management skills. In 2018, I began teaching private lessons again at Westchase Music School. I also began working in the Music Technology Lab teaching music theory. I went on to become the Music Technology Lab Manager at the school, then became the school's Assistant Director in 2021.
I am able to teach the following instruments and levels:
Violin & Viola: all levels Cello: beginner Electric & Acoustic Guitar (non-classical): beginner-intermediate Piano: beginner-intermediate Music Theory: all levels Music Composition & Song Writing: all levels Recording Arts and Music Production: beginner-intermediate
Teaching Style
I enjoy humor and a laid-back approach to my lessons. I believe music lessons should be fun, not a chore, and I believe practicing should not feel like homework. My goal is for the student to enjoy their instrument as much as possible to develop a passion for music!
Curriculum
For beginner students, I start with Hal Leonard's "Essential Elements" Book 1. This book is not only great for learning the fundamentals of the instrument such as the names of the parts of the instrument, how to hold the instrument, etc. but it also the best book I have found to teach beginning students how to read music. For more advanced students, I like to stick with a formula of three things: scales two-three octaves, an etude a piece used to focus on a specific technique, and solo repertoire. All students will also learn proper warm-up and cool-down methods, such as stretching and breathing techniques. I also like lessons to be organic, meaning that if there is something specific the student wishes to work on, or there is a specific problem they need help to overcome, we can focus on that as well.
Credentials & Affiliations
Statement of Eligibility, Music K-12 (Florida Department of Education)