CECILY
TERHUNE
Pedagogy
"Not only did Cecily have the students completely prepared with their ensemble parts, she also demonstrated a real understanding of jazz improvisation and rhythm section pedagogy. Perhaps most importantly, almost everyone wanted to improvise, which shows her connection with the students has fostered musical risk-taking and a generally positive vibe. It was an honor to perform with her band."
Dr. Matthew Pivec
Director of Jazz Studies
Butler University School of Music
"Cecily Terhune has the heart of a musician - an engaging performer and a natural teacher, sharing her knowledge and passion with the next generation of musicians."
Jennifer Johnson
Muncie Symphony Orchestra Executive Director
"One could not ask for a better teacher than Cecily. Not only is she a talented musician herself, but she is also a wonderful teacher. Cecily puts students at ease with her warm personality. She teaches them important musical concepts and gives helpful tips as well. Cecily challenges her students to be the best musicians they can be without ever coming across as unkind. My family even went to see one of her shows with Audiodacity and really enjoyed it. Cecily is clearly passionate about music and does a terrific job of sharing her many talents with those around her."
Ruth Perkins
Creekside MS Mother
I am an adult student and have been taking lessons from Cecily for two years. I have played periodically over the years, but finally made the commitment to take lessons. Cecily has been truly incredible in helping me along my saxophone journey. Her attention to all the little details has enable me to really grow in my sound and techniques while playing. She truly does focus on the individual with positive energy and makes each session enjoyable.
Chris Roberts
Sales Instructor
"When I began to take lessons from Cecily, I not only found an incredible teacher and saxophonist, but an incredible friend who I felt comfortable talking to about anything. She is someone I know I can trust to keep me engaged and constantly interested in discovering all of the incredible things that she herself has found out about the saxophone. I am so glad to have had the privilege of working with such an amazing player and such an amazing person."
Reece
Carmel High School Senior
"Cecily encourages me to dig deeper in my studies of saxophone and helps build me into the musician I want to be. She helps me pick out music that I find interesting, challenging, and beautiful while making sure I grasp and maintain the fundamental skills necessary to play saxophone."
Robert
Indiana Academy Junior
"I wasn't sure what to expect when I switched to Cecily, but I quickly found I had nothing to worry about. Cecily has an enormous amount of knowledge and skill and teaches at a level that I can understand. I am a better musician now than when I started my lessons with her."
Ben
New Castle High School Sophomore
"Ben's skill level continues to grow, he enjoys and looks forward to each lesson, he improves from one lesson to the next, and his peers have taken notice of his talent."
Carrie, Ben's mother
New Castle, Indiana
Experience
Cecily Terhune has worked with many ensembles, private students, instrumental sections, and chamber groups. She has taught middle schoolers up through college undergraduates and adult students. She currently has over forty private students across central Indiana. She is on staff at Park Tudor School and the Sam Ash Learning Center as the woodwind instructor and she teaches private saxophone and clarinet lessons at Carmel and Noblesville High Schools. Students typically take weekly half hour or hour long private lessons.
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Terhune also directs the Jazz 5 ensemble at Carmel High School.
Through her assistantship at Ball State University, Terhune has coached jazz combos, led sectionals, directed a jazz band, and taught individual jazz lessons.
Outside of her studio and assistantship, she has worked with the Strings and Jazzy Things music camp as the saxophone instructor, Mount Vernon High School Concert bands in Fortville, IN as the woodwind instructor, Lebanon High School as the marching band woodwind instructor, Mount Vernon High School marching band in Mount Vernon, IN as the saxophone instructor, and the Muncie Symphony Orchestra outreach program as an instrument petting zoo instructor and presenter, among other engagements.
Educational Philosophy
"My approach to education is to help students grow both as musicians and as people. Through efforts developing musicality on their instruments, students will acquire attributes such as strong work ethic, improved focus, discipline, patience, and critical listening. In an effort to foster these desirable qualities, I maintain a positive and mutually respectful atmosphere in my studio, so that students feel comfortable to come to me with questions and concerns about their playing.
I feel that students will learn the most when they feel comfortable, so in my teaching, I strive to make sure that all expectations for lessons are clear and that each of my lessons is tailored to specific students’ needs. I promise the utmost of professionalism and passion for helping students grow and learn to play music."