Clarinet Lessons in Ho Ho Kus, NJ

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

I'm a professional jazz saxophonist and composer who has lived in New York and performed around the world for 15 years. I began playing sax when I was 9 years old and quickly developed an interest in jazz. I started playing my first gigs at around 14 and decided to devote my life to the saxophone and music. I received a Bachelor of Music from NYU in jazz saxophone performance. Some of the highlights of my performing career have included concerts in Italy, Russia and Brazil, as well as performances at Lincoln Center and the Village Vanguard in New York. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet Music Keyboard

I always want to help my students understand the basics of music and universal principles that can apply to any music they are interested in learning. Whether it's jazz, pop, classical, blues, most styles of music share these principles in common and are best played when the musician can understand the underlying structures. Rather than having students memorize one piece that they'll forget as soon as they move onto the next, I want my students to have the skills to play any music they like any time by helping them develop their ear. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet Synthesizer Music

I like to have students move at their own pace. I would work with each student and learn their strengths and weaknesses in regards to playing their instrument, and use that knowledge to help guide them along during the lessons and in what work or etudes I give them to practice in between each lesson. For example, if a beginner student is struggling with the fundamentals of music or their instrument, I might spend more time on that to make them more comfortable with the fundamentals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

My relationship with music making began at the age of 7 when I begrudgingly agreed to take piano lessons at the nudging of my parents. In the first lesson, my teacher taught me the theme from The Simpsons, and I was sold. It would be years before I would actually become competent at turning notes on a page into something musically expressive, but that day I went home knowing I had found something special, and that inertia has carried me to where I am today. Read More

Instruments: Clarinet

For beginning and intermediate students I like to teach out of the Rubank Method books. They have pieces that focus on one issue or another and are short enough to encourage students to simply become used to the idea of practicing every day. Once the student has some basic fundamentals it is always nice to work on a piece of repertoire. Again certain challeges are adressed and met through this as well, but the goal is also to have a chance to perform it, displaying a practical application to the student's accomplishments and hopefully encouraging the student to become further interested. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Piccolo

My passion for teaching goes way back to my middle School years when my band professor would let me teach the younger grades. Throughout the years my love for teaching has increased, watching my students grow in every lesson, watching them achieve their goals is what inspire me to keep the hard work. It very important for me to encourage daily practice and it's very important that parents do too. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Recorder Double Bass Music

It is important to adopt a teaching style that is tailored to the individual needs of each student, especially because each student learns at their own pace. Setting goals is one of the first topics I discuss with my students, and then indicate some of the steps they need to take to achieve the goals that they set for themselves. Keeping track of a student's hours of practice and their musical achievements is beneficial for me to determine what new material and concepts to work on, and also allows the student to stay organized and motivated.  Read More