Oskar Espina Ruiz, clarinet D.M.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook M.F.A., State University of New York at Purchase "I try to make students feel comfortable with their instrument, so that they can have fun making music." External links: www.kobaltone.com “I liked woodwind instruments,” says Oskar Espina Ruiz of why he began studying clarinet at age 14 in Bilbao, Spain. He moved to New York in 1991 to pursue clarinet studies with Charles Neidich. Oskar’s teaching experience spans three continents: he has taught extensively in Spain, China and the United States. “I try to make students feel comfortable with their instrument, so that they can have fun making music. I do this by teaching technique and musicianship through exercises, method books and pieces from the repertoire.” Although Oskar loves young children, they are usually too small to play the clarinet so he prefers starting children eight years and older on the instrument. He does work with adults, focusing on “keeping them motivated with attractive repertoire.” Mozart, Schumann, Debussy, Berg, Stravinsky, Cage and Carter are among Oskar’s favorite composers. As a performer, he most enjoys playing music from the romantic and contemporary periods. He prefers solo playing to orchestral or chamber music ensembles because it allows him “a great deal of freedom in my interpretation.” A teacher at Bloomingdale for two and a half years, Oskar enjoys “seeing my youngest students grow up while playing better and better and developing their enthusiasm for music.”