A leader in the field of brass pedagogy, Dr. Clarkson is an active performer and clinician. Her teaching focuses on metacognition (thinking about your own thinking!) and developing students’ individual musical voices - skills that will serve you well past graduation.

As a Lead Brass Instructor with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps and Principal Tubist of the Magnolia Brass Quintet, Dr. Clarkson’s connections are far-reaching. Whatever you are interested in pursuing after school, she can help you connect with professionals in your field.

Our studio culture is welcoming and supportive. We get better by working together, sharing ideas, and collaborating. Visit our weekly studio class on Wednesday afternoons, and you will see for yourself!

From Bordogni Parties to Octubaween to Game of Tones (our biannual scale competition), we always have something pushing us to improve.

OCU is a small, liberal arts college in the heart of Oklahoma City, OK. With an undergraduate population of just over 1600 students, a quarter of those are music majors, and another half are involved in our competitive Dance, Theatre, and Art programs. You will be surrounded by like-minded artists in every class across campus.

OCU is a private school - which often means tuition looks higher on paper - but over 90% of our students receive financial aid and the School of Music offers particularly generous scholarships.

Finally, unlike larger institutions, 100% of your applied lessons will be taught by your professor - Dr. Clarkson - and you will never be passed on to a graduate student.

Renowned for our Opera and Musical Theater programs, the Bass School of Music stages six productions a year, all with student orchestras. If you are interested in pit playing, this is the place to be.

Students have the opportunity to play in a wide variety of ensembles and styles, from wind band to orchestra, tuba quartet to steel pan ensemble - whatever you can dream up, you can make happen!

With state-of-the-art rehearsal spaces, practice rooms, and teaching studios, the Bass School of Music is a truly beautiful place to make music.

Oklahoma City is home to outstanding food and coffee shops. Located in the center of OKC’s Asian District, OCU is surrounded by some of the best food around - including an outstanding Asian grocery store - Super Cao Nguyen, and a James Beard nominated Laotian restaurant - Ma Der Lao. When you come to campus, be sure to swing by HQ Coffee for their black sesame latte - a must-try!

If you like classical music, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic performs every other week less than 10 minutes from campus - and student rush tickets are only $11.00!

If contemporary music is more your thing, check out the Tower Theater, Jones Assembly, or Resonant Head for shows passing through town.

OKC is a sports town! Visit the Bricktown Ballpark to see our our minor league baseball - the Comets or head downtown to catch the reigning NBA Champions, the OKC Thunder. In 2028, OKC will host the canoe slalom and softball events as part of the Los Angeles games.

OKC also has a great arts culture. Our Museum of Art has a stunning permanent Chihuly installation, and the OKC Contemporary has regularly rotating exhibits (and is free to the public!).

Needless to say, as the capital of Oklahoma and the largest city in the state, there is always plenty to eat, drink, and explore - and it’s all 15 minutes or less from campus!