Oboe, English horn & Reed-making Lessons

Teaching Philosophy & Studio Environment

  • as the teacher, I will provide:

    • the skills and knowledge required to be adaptable towards the varying needs of my students

    • the tools necessary to become self-sufficient players and reed makers

    • a healthy learning environment with each student and in the studio as a whole

  • students should:

    • have their own set of goals for themselves

    • become their own best teacher through continuous and dedicated study

Goals for Musical​ity & Technique

  • sound must be beautiful and easy

  • find the beauty in every piece of music

  • have a musical voice that shines through to every listener

  • be the expert of whatever piece one is playing

  • must play with authority above all else

  • facility and ease are paramount

  • striving for perfection enables excellence

  • physical and mental practice forms healthy habits

  • technique should be of the level where it enables further musicality

  • students should feel comfortable diagnostically checking their playing with or without a teacher present

Goals for Reed-making

  • reeds should:

    • function well without manipulation of the embouchure or air

    • allow musical ideas to shine through

    • be made quickly and with great precision

    • compromise of equal parts response and tone quality

    • be an extension of the player into the oboe


Based out of the RTP area in Central North Carolina

Teaching Experience & Student Accolades

  • All County/All District/All State Audition Prep

    • Relevant experience: 1st chair Oboe NC All State 11-12 Honors Band 2013 (Highest score of the day across all instruments), 1st chair Oboe NC Central District 11-12 Honors Band 2013 (highest oboe score of the day), 2nd chair Oboe NC Central District 9-10 Honors Band 2012, 1st chair Oboe UNCG 9-10 Honors Band 2012​

    • Student accolades: 1st chair Oboe NC All State Middle School Honors Band 2025, 1st chair Oboe* NC East Central District Middle School Honors Band 2025, 1st chair Oboe* and 4th chair Oboe NC East Central District Middle School Honors Band 2024

      * Indicates All State eligibility

  • Triangle Youth Music Audition Prep

    • Relevant experience: Principal Oboe/English horn of TYP 2011-2014, Oboe with the TYP Woodwind Quintet 2011-2014, Principal Oboe of TYO 2009-2011​

    • Student accolades: Three out of four oboe positions in the 2024-2025 Triangle Youth Orchestra (TYO) and three out of four oboe positions in the 2023-2024 TYO were won by students of Emily Hector-Hodges

  • Private Oboe and English horn Teacher​

    • Cary, NC (2022-present) & Morrisville, NC (2012-2014) ​

  • Governor’s School of North Carolina Audition Prep in the Area of Instrumental Music

    • Relevant experience: Principal Oboe of the North Carolina Governor’s School West Orchestra 2012

  • Group Instructor/Guest Clinician

    • Green Level High School (2023-2025), Fuquay-Varina High School (2023), Green Hope High School (2023), Leesville Road High School (2023), Euclid Heights High School (2018-2019)​, Green Hope High School (2014)

  • Reed Assistant and Tutor

    • Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Oboe Studio (2020-2022)​

    • Cleveland Institute of Music Oboe Studio (2017-2020)

“Teaching is close to a sacred duty.”

— John Mack, Former Principal Oboe of the Cleveland Orchestra