Ryan
PianoFrench Horn
About Ryan
Originally from Illinois, Ryan Wezner is an active musician and teacher based in the Portland area, offering instruction in both piano and horn. His teaching is informed by many years of experience as an orchestral and chamber musician, as well as by his work with a wide range of students on both instruments. Ryan is an enthusiastic, caring educator who strives to bring out the best in each of his students.
Ryan’s musical journey began in fifth grade with a required recorder class, sparking an early interest in music. He started playing the horn at age 12 and took up the piano at 15. Ryan went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Horn Performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and a Master’s Degree in Horn Performance from Shenandoah University. His principal teachers include Dale Clevenger and Geoffrey Pilkington, with additional studies under Jeb Wallace, Mark Almond, Robert Rearden, and Jeff Garza.
Q&A with Ryan
Which musician would you like to play with?
Yuja Wang
Which musician has influenced you the most?
Dale Clevenger
What can you teach me better on your instrument than any other teacher?
I can teach you how to make an exercise out of any troublesome passage in your music so you can overcome any playing issue!
How did you learn to play your instrument?
I learned to the play the horn when I enrolled in band as a middle school student, and I learned to play piano in high school when I was offered lessons.
What equipment do you play on today?
I play on a horn handmade by Dan Rauch, and I spend most of my time practicing piano on a Boston upright.
Which personal trait helped you the most while practicing?
Creativity has helped me the most. It's the best way to solve our most ingrained technical and musical shortcomings.
What does your instrument have that others don't?
My horn has a lot of sentimental value to me as it has a connection to my late teacher, Dale Clevenger.
How do you handle children?
I approach working with children by balancing structure and fun. Clear expectations and routines from the start helps my students feel secure and focused. I adapt my teaching to each child's personality. I also use positive reinforcement and teach my younger students to break things down into manageable goals to keep motivation high. When a child is distracted or struggling, I remain patient and try to find the underlying cause and adjust accordingly. Over time, I build trust with my students by listening to them and celebrating their progress. When young students feel seen and supported, they become much more engaged and confident learners.
What has been your greatest experience as a musician so far?
My greatest experience as a musician so far has been doing outreach concerts. It's really special to prepare music and bring it to audiences that normally wouldn't seek about live performances or have access to live music.
What was the biggest stage you played on?
Probably a tie between Orchestra Hall in Detroit and Jacobs Music Center in San Diego
Which record would you take with you to the desert island?
Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 performed by the Seattle Symphony & Thomas Dausgaard
Besides music, what else is important in your life?
My friends and family. I'm fortunate to spend a lot of time surrounded by people I really love.
Music style(s)
Classical
Level(s) Comfortable Teaching
Beginner to Advanced
What languages can you teach in?
English