Saxophone Lessons in Beacon Hill, WA

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I'm a gentle person who believes in exposing my students to the best music, and bringing out of them the music they have within. The idea is to ease their frustrations, not add to them. As long as the student actually tries, I feel confident they will enjoy the wxperience and learn a great deal. Music is one of life's greaat pleasures and worth every bit of the effort required to do it well. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

For methods; it will honestly depend on if the student has been working through something with a prior lesson teacher or after the first lesson and seeing what the interest is in either jazz or classical will go from there. For classical; I would utilize the Rubank method books that I used when doing classical music. For jazz studies, I find it more beneficial to start with the Charlie Parker Omnibook, Realbook, then start learning things by ear and memory depending on the level of the student and the progress we are making. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Shakuhachi Conga

I have very high standards for teaching.That is why I did not start teaching until my fourties.At that point I felt that I had both the life experience and skills to be a good teacher.There is a lot more to playing music than just playing the right notes.That is what I call the mechanics of music but the not the soul.Obviously you must start with the basics to get to any deeper level of expression.That is what I am most passionate about.Why does anyone want to play an instrument? Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

I am happy to curate lesson plans and materials to fit the student. If a student is truly a beginner I believe that starting with fundamentals such as simple major and minor scales is crucial before moving into any type of performance preparation. I believe it is important to incorporate students passions into practice as well, and as such I will encourage students to bring specific songs or works that they aim to learn. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

I like to start by asking about a student about their prior experience (if any), interests and goals on their instrument. With my students, I generally start by tackling basics like healthy breathing and posture, producing good tone, note-reading, and rhythm. Depending on students interests, we may then gradually incorporate more advanced techniques such as playing by ear, learning longer, more complex classical or jazz pieces, music theory, and improvisation. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

I teach not only how to play the chosen instrument, but also about its history and its role across musical styles. Music is fun, and while hard work and practice are important and essential, so is enjoyment of music and enjoyment of one's instrument. I also strive to include music related field trips such as to opera dress rehearsals, to music related sites such as the EMP or to other local performances. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

I work with each student on a case to case basis, each student has different needs and approaches, all of which I try and accommodate. I encourage my students to practice at least an hour a day, this can be done in ten minute intervals or whatever amount of time the student can maintain focus. I would also love to hear about what my student is interested in and what I can do to help them become a more well rounded musician. Read More