Tuba, Euphonium, Sousaphone, Trombone, Trumpet, French Horn, Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Voice, Guitar
Ben Berger
Hi! My name is Ben and I’ve been teaching and playing music in Philly for over 8 years now! I grew up in Gettysburg, PA but came to Philly to study at Temple University and have been a part of this city ever since. I obtained my bachelors in Music Education in 2021 and spent several years teaching in classrooms and small groups around Philadelphia. I’ve been in many different ensembles over the years but some of my favorites have been Temple’s Diamond Marching Band, The Singing Owls Community Choir, and Philadelphia’s Tuba Christmas!
Some of my favorite schools I’ve taught at include The High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), The Philadelphia School (TPS), and St. Monica’s Catholic School (The Heart of South Philly)! While at these schools I refined my teaching style into a simple philosophy, finding what makes you fall in love with music. Playing an instrument should be an experience that fills a student with satisfaction, and helps them build a relationship with music that encourages creativity and stress relief. My goal, through an individualized lesson plan and student feedback, is to create an environment where the student feels confident in their progression and mindset.
When did you begin playing Tuba, and why?
I began playing the baritone before the tuba in the 4th grade as I was still too small for the massive instrument. My school had done an Instrument Petting Zoo, which I believe was a fantastic way to introduce the different orchestral instruments. I remember the deep sound from the brass bell made my chest vibrate and from that moment I was hooked.
What other instruments do you play, and what is your experience with them?
While studying at Temple University, my program allowed me to become familiar with instruments from the brass, woodwind, string, and percussion families. I was given the tools to teach the basics to any beginner. Personally, I have always gravitated to the brass family, especially trombone and trumpet.
During my years as a classroom teacher, I also picked up skills with the acoustic guitar.My journey with the guitar is different as it was an instrument I had to teach myself. It took many years to get to the point that I am at now, but perseverance conquers. It has been one of the most self satisfying projects I have ever taken up and look forward to progressing even more.
What are your personal goals as a musician?
I always want to maintain a good relationship with music in my life. This seems redundant as a music teacher, but to do music as a job and to play music for myself are two very different things. During my years teaching, I found myself playing at home less and less because of stress and burnout. It took me redefining my relationship with music as a way to relax and express myself to mend it.
Do you have a memory of a time when a musical concept or technique really clicked? Something you’ll remember forever?
I spent most of my childhood performing music, but I never really understood it until high school. I took Music Theory as an elective and that class completely changed how I saw music, it’s honestly the reason I became a music teacher. Seeing how the different chord patterns, basslines, inversions, and cadences come together, makes every instrument in the orchestra seem like a thread being woven into some musical fabric.
What is your favorite piece of advice from one of your past (or current) teachers?
My tuba instructor at Temple, Dr. Jay Krush would often say “If you can sing it, you can play it”. I honestly spent more time singing my etudes than actually playing them. What he wanted from me is to be able to mentally envision the next note which can be incredibly important when playing a wind instrument.
What was your most challenging moment learning an instrument?
I have always struggled with maintaining my focus while practicing. It’s easy to grow frustrated or distracted when working on a difficult piece of music. What I’ve found is that slowing down and breaking the problem into smaller pieces makes practicing more rewarding and engaging.
What is your biggest musical achievement?
I’ve been able to play music for many ensembles that would travel the country to perform at large venues, but my biggest achievement was getting to play guitar by myself in a coffee shop at an open mic. When playing in larger ensembles it’s easy to get lost in the crowd as a tuba player. There are no flashy solos or highlights- just me in the back holding down the bassline. When I finally had to play by myself with my guitar, I realized how scary being the only source of music can be. It took courage to practice and perform a piece of music that I picked and decided to share with others. However, when I saw that everyone had enjoyed what I had performed, I felt an immense satisfaction that I had never experienced before and hope to again.
Favorite thing about teaching?
There is no better feeling than watching a student connect with an instrument. When that happens, you watch curiosity and creativity come together as they begin a musical journey. It’s the moment when you realize that they have found a companion for the rest of their life.
What is a piece of advice you would like to share with anyone learning music?
That life is long and an instrument isn’t learned in a day. My Dad got me a guitar when I was 16, I didn’t even touch it until I was 20, and I didn’t start practicing regularly until I was 24. It can be a long process and it takes work, like anything else in life. However, having a relationship with music is one of the best things to maintain in your life. It is well worth putting in the effort to have an outlet for creativity and expression.