Teaching
Masterclasses and Coaching
Margaret Thornhill is available as a guest clarinet teacher for masterclasses, residencies, and day long workshops in clarinet repertoire and technique. She can also be hired as a free-lance chamber music coach or through ACMP as a private coach for pre-formed groups. She is a frequent guest clarinet teacher for masterclasses at clarinet studios at colleges and universities, and coaches regularly for chamber music workshops.
"I spent Saturday at Eastern Washington University for their annual ClariNexus. This year's star was Margaret Thornhill, who is well known for her Los Angeles Clarinet Choir. The focus was on clarinet choir, and Dr. Thornhill proved to be an incredible director, with a perfect feel for the sounds and techniques needed in each voice of the ensemble. Thornhill (also) gave a masterclass with four members of the EWU clarinet studio students as subjects. Her coaching was insightful and provocative."
—Bob Phillips, 2010 (as reviewed on the Clarinet Board)
"A terrific experience--I came home with about a tenfold increase in my enthusiasm for playing!"
—Robert Goldstein, 2007 President of Chamber Musicians of Northern California
“A gift from the gods of music!”
—Ted Rust
“Margaret, you have a special talent for communicating what you want, giving direction towards goals, and motivating people to rise to a higher level in their playing.”
—Gary Robertz
Private Studio
Margaret is accepting advanced students at her home studio in Venice, CA for private lessons, and since the pandemic she also teaches on the internet using Zoom.
"My studies with you have transformed my playing"
—L.R., professional
“It seems as if all the hard work is paying off...I LOVE every single second of it. I am looking forward to my next lesson so I can learn more and more!”
—Jonathan Szin, as a 16 year-old high school student (now professional)
"You are an incredible teacher and it is amazing to hear my improvement each week at my lessons!"
—Nicolina Logan, as a 16 year old private student (now professional)
"You are the best teacher I ever had." —B.B., professional
Faculty
Margaret is Adjunct Professor of Clarinet at Claremont Graduate University, where she teaches private lessons in clarinet and mentors in the DMA program.