Greetings! My name is Portia and I am a tuba player, composer, and music educator. I have been privately teaching music/low brass for nearly 20 years and I currently teach at the University of California, Davis and the Los Rios Community College District. I graduated from UC Davis with a B.A. in Music Composition and Theory and earned a double Master's in Music in Composition and Tuba Performance from California State University Sacramento.

I have a strong passion for teaching music and students will quickly notice this. I am funny and will make students laugh, which makes them more comfortable and helps me connect and build rapport with them. I work to create a positive and welcoming environment where students are excited to come rather than scared or stressed about their next lesson. I look forward to working with new students and someday, that may be you!

When working with students, I cater the lesson to the needs of the individual student. Every student has their own learning style, so I try to use different techniques and approaches to make sure the content is understood. I work with them on the fundamentals and enhance the current skills to reach necessary goals. I encourage my students to do their best always and cheer them on when they succeed, even if it a small victory.