Teacher Profile: Ben Ryer

About Ben Ryer

Ben Ryer is a composer and music educator who teaches flute, clarinet, saxophone, and piano lessons, as well as music theory, arranging, and composition. He is a woodwind specialist who first started his musical education on clarinet, then expanded to other instrument groups and areas of expertise, including composition. A Northern Virginia native, he spent his high school years playing clarinet and bass clarinet on and off the marching field, as well as participating numerous times in the All-District and All-State bands.

While attending the University of Mary Washington for his BA in Music, he studied the clarinet and saxophone under Doug Gately (former soloist with the Airmen of Note), and music theory with Dr. Craig Naylor and Dr. David Long. He went on to earn his Master of Music degree at George Mason University, where he has studied composition under Dr. Glenn Smith, Dr. Jesse Guessford, and Mark Camphouse.

Currently, Ben is pursuing his doctorate in composition at George Mason University and remains an active woodwind, piano, and music theory instructor with Lessons In Your Home. As a teacher with several years of experience in music education, Ben continues to inspire students to exercise creativity in their own playing and help them realize their individual passion for music.