Who is DeFruba Dude?

I am a native to the Suffolk area, and have been involved in the music of our city since 2008 when I joined band in Middle School.  Ever since then, I have fell in love with playing music and hope to help others find that same joy!

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Attending Bridgewater College, I graduated with a Bachelor's in Music in 2020.  While there, I received the Nelson T. Huffman Award for Musical Excellence, performed with various ensembles on tuba, euphonium, trombone, tenor saxophone, percussion, bass, and voice, and taught private lessons to students in that area.  I also acquired my Virginia Teaching License and was named Bridgewater College's Teacher of Promise of 2020. Returning to the Hampton Roads area, I have served as the Director of Bands at John Yeates Middle School, which is where I am today!

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In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Skye, baking, streaming on Twitch, and recording videos for my YouTube Channel! I also help teach courses on computer coding, programming, and digital art over the summer.

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My goal in providing private lessons for aspiring musicians is to help them tap into their potential and to help them discover and explore their love for music.  I allow my students to guide their own lessons and their own experiences by what genres and styles of music they learn to play.