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Stephen
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Music Theory Lessons for All Levels with a Composer-Conductor

Do you want to explore music theory at your own pace, whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your existing knowledge? My Music Theory for All Levels course is designed to be flexible, meeting the needs of beginners and advanced learners alike.

We can cover any and all elements of music theory, tailored to your current skills and goals. Beginners can start with the basics--intervals, rhythms, and tonality--while more experienced students can dive into advanced concepts like counterpoint, modulation, and extended techniques.

We’ll use your prefered music and instruments (or voice!) to make the learning process relevant and enjoyable. Whether you're a curious beginner, a performer looking to refine your knowledge, or a composer aiming for a deeper dive, this course is for everyone.

Location

At student's location: Around Berlin, Germany
Online via webcam
At teacher's location: Reinickendorfer Straße, Berlin, Germany

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General info

Age:
Preschool children (4-6 years old)
Children (7-12 years old)
Teenagers (13-17 years old)
Adults (18-64 years old)
Seniors (65+ years old)
Student level:
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Duration:
30 minutes
45 minutes
60 minutes
90 minutes
120 minutes
The class is taught in:English, German

About Me

American Conductor and Composer Stephen has served as Resident Conductor with the Cincinnati Opera, Associate Conductor with the Atlanta Symphony, and Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. 2024-25 season highlights include conducting debuts with Ensemble MusikFabrik, the Filarmonica Transilvania, Junges Sinfonie Orchester Wetzlar, and at the Momentum Festival Berlin, alongside return engagements as a guest conductor at the University of North Texas Opera and as an assistant conductor with the New York Philharmonic. As a composer, Stephen will present a new work with Ensemble MusikFabrik at their studio in Cologne and begin a collaboration with percussionist David Moliner and Universal Edition, culminating in the premiere of a new work at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg in January 2026.

A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Stephen debuted on the New York Philharmonic’s Sound ON Series in 2022 and their 65th Street Session Series in 2023. In demand as a guest conductor, Stephen has led performances with the Dallas Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, National Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, San Antonio Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and Virginia Symphony.

Stephen has assisted, prepared stage works, and served as second conductor for many of the world’s top conductors, including Marin Alsop, Karina Canellakis, Gustavo Dudamel, James Gaffigan, Edward Gardner, Manfred Honeck, Jakub Hrůša, Susanna Mälkki, Zubin Mehta, Ludovic Morlot, Peter Oundjian, Matthias Pintscher, David Robertson, Sir Donald Runnicles, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leonard Slatkin, Robert Spano, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Jaap van Zweden.

As a Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Stephen stepped in for Gustavo Dudamel on short notice to conduct an all-Beethoven program and led other notable performances, including Stravinsky’s complete L’Histoire du Soldat and an All-Ravel Toyota Symphonies for Youth Concert. During his first season as Associate Conductor with the Atlanta Symphony, Stephen stepped in for three classical subscription programs over six weeks to critical acclaim.

A native of Baltimore, Stephen began his violin studies with his father, Gregory, and continued with Kyung Yu at Yale University. His conducting teachers include Gustav Meier at the Peabody Institute, Robert Spano at the Aspen Music Festival, and Arturo Tamayo at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana. He has a degree in composition under Jörg Widmann from the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin.

Education

Yale University, Bachelor of the Arts, Violin and Conducting
Peabody Institute, Masters in Music, Orchestral Conducting
Barenboim-Said Akademie (Berlin), Artist Diploma in Composition

Experience / Qualifications

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dudamel Fellow
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Assistant/Associate Conductor
Cincinnati Opera, Resident Conductor

Reviews (2)

I have been learning German from Stephan and he has been an amazing tutor. He completely understands your unique needs and always design the sessions based on where I need improvement. I feel more confident now and will continue taking classes with him.
Stephen's lesson on harmony was just what I needed! I had a few specific questions to brush up on, and he explained everything super clearly and in a way that made it easy to apply to my work. He's knowledgeable and approachable—I’d definitely recommend him to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of music theory! Or if you're like me and need a quick refresh of all the things you forgot years ago from school 😅
Are you stuck? I can help! In our composition lessons, we’ll both learn how to get more from basic elements, like pitch and rhythm, and also the things we can do to help make a composition more poetic. We can work on how to get more music from fewer ideas to create a consistent musical language, and also explore the idea of opposites in your compositions, blending and smearing contrasting elements to add depth and complexity to your work. Through the analysis of great music, the composition of miniatures, and feedback on your current projects, you’ll both increase your technical fluency and simultaneously learn to love and develop your unique voice. This class is for any level of composer, whether you're a beginner or an experienced composer seeking to enhance your creative skills. Don't wait any longer :)
As an American with a C1 Goethe-Institut certificate in German, I understand the long journey of learning this difficult language! I can help you wherever you are on your German path, from the basics to complex grammar, from understanding everyday language to working on your pronunciation. I have spent time carefully collecting resources that help native English speakers...for example, things that help with speech rhythm and accentuation...which not a lot of teachers teach, but which make a huge difference. In any case, I can custom-tailor our lessons based on your needs.

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Availability of a typical week

(GMT -05:00) New York
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4  Monday at 4:00  Tuesday at 4:00  Wednesday at 4:00  Thursday at 4:00  Friday at 4:00  Saturday at 4:00  Sunday at 4:00
5  Monday at 5:00  Tuesday at 5:00  Wednesday at 5:00  Thursday at 5:00  Friday at 5:00  Saturday at 5:00  Sunday at 5:00
6  Monday at 6:00  Tuesday at 6:00  Wednesday at 6:00  Thursday at 6:00  Friday at 6:00  Saturday at 6:00  Sunday at 6:00
7  Monday at 7:00  Tuesday at 7:00  Wednesday at 7:00  Thursday at 7:00  Friday at 7:00  Saturday at 7:00  Sunday at 7:00
8  Monday at 8:00  Tuesday at 8:00  Wednesday at 8:00  Thursday at 8:00  Friday at 8:00  Saturday at 8:00  Sunday at 8:00
9  Monday at 9:00  Tuesday at 9:00  Wednesday at 9:00  Thursday at 9:00  Friday at 9:00  Saturday at 9:00  Sunday at 9:00
10  Monday at 10:00  Tuesday at 10:00  Wednesday at 10:00  Thursday at 10:00  Friday at 10:00  Saturday at 10:00  Sunday at 10:00
11  Monday at 11:00  Tuesday at 11:00  Wednesday at 11:00  Thursday at 11:00  Friday at 11:00  Saturday at 11:00  Sunday at 11:00
12  Monday at 12:00  Tuesday at 12:00  Wednesday at 12:00  Thursday at 12:00  Friday at 12:00  Saturday at 12:00  Sunday at 12:00
13  Monday at 13:00  Tuesday at 13:00  Wednesday at 13:00  Thursday at 13:00  Friday at 13:00  Saturday at 13:00  Sunday at 13:00
14  Monday at 14:00  Tuesday at 14:00  Wednesday at 14:00  Thursday at 14:00  Friday at 14:00  Saturday at 14:00  Sunday at 14:00
15  Monday at 15:00  Tuesday at 15:00  Wednesday at 15:00  Thursday at 15:00  Friday at 15:00  Saturday at 15:00  Sunday at 15:00
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from C$44.17At teacher's location
from C$44.17Online via webcam
from C$53.31At student's home

Good-fit Instructor Guarantee


If you are not satisfied after your first lesson, Apprentus will find you another instructor or will refund your first lesson.

Online reputation

  • Instructor since October 2021
  • 1 repeat student
  • Phone number verified
  • Google connected

Availability of a typical week

(GMT -05:00) New York
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
0              
1              
2              
3  Monday at 3:00  Tuesday at 3:00  Wednesday at 3:00  Thursday at 3:00  Friday at 3:00  Saturday at 3:00  Sunday at 3:00
4  Monday at 4:00  Tuesday at 4:00  Wednesday at 4:00  Thursday at 4:00  Friday at 4:00  Saturday at 4:00  Sunday at 4:00
5  Monday at 5:00  Tuesday at 5:00  Wednesday at 5:00  Thursday at 5:00  Friday at 5:00  Saturday at 5:00  Sunday at 5:00
6  Monday at 6:00  Tuesday at 6:00  Wednesday at 6:00  Thursday at 6:00  Friday at 6:00  Saturday at 6:00  Sunday at 6:00
7  Monday at 7:00  Tuesday at 7:00  Wednesday at 7:00  Thursday at 7:00  Friday at 7:00  Saturday at 7:00  Sunday at 7:00
8  Monday at 8:00  Tuesday at 8:00  Wednesday at 8:00  Thursday at 8:00  Friday at 8:00  Saturday at 8:00  Sunday at 8:00
9  Monday at 9:00  Tuesday at 9:00  Wednesday at 9:00  Thursday at 9:00  Friday at 9:00  Saturday at 9:00  Sunday at 9:00
10  Monday at 10:00  Tuesday at 10:00  Wednesday at 10:00  Thursday at 10:00  Friday at 10:00  Saturday at 10:00  Sunday at 10:00
11  Monday at 11:00  Tuesday at 11:00  Wednesday at 11:00  Thursday at 11:00  Friday at 11:00  Saturday at 11:00  Sunday at 11:00
12  Monday at 12:00  Tuesday at 12:00  Wednesday at 12:00  Thursday at 12:00  Friday at 12:00  Saturday at 12:00  Sunday at 12:00
13  Monday at 13:00  Tuesday at 13:00  Wednesday at 13:00  Thursday at 13:00  Friday at 13:00  Saturday at 13:00  Sunday at 13:00
14  Monday at 14:00  Tuesday at 14:00  Wednesday at 14:00  Thursday at 14:00  Friday at 14:00  Saturday at 14:00  Sunday at 14:00
15  Monday at 15:00  Tuesday at 15:00  Wednesday at 15:00  Thursday at 15:00  Friday at 15:00  Saturday at 15:00  Sunday at 15:00
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from C$44.17At teacher's location
from C$44.17Online via webcam
from C$53.31At student's home

Good-fit Instructor Guarantee


If you are not satisfied after your first lesson, Apprentus will find you another instructor or will refund your first lesson.

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