Saxophone Lessons in Bernardsville, NJ

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

I am a professional multi-instrumentalist in both jazz and classical music. I have been teaching for over 45 years. I have played jazz on both coasts (and Chicago) and have performed in chamber ensembles in New York and New England, playing music from the Renaissance as well as more standard repertoire. After earning my degree in composition, which I earned while working as a musician, I fell in love with music before 1750, learned the instruments and techniques to perform it properly and got my MA. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Synthesizer Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn Acoustic Guitar

I love the learning process and to see students progress through the stages of learning an instrument. I taught myself to play the piano before I started formal lessons. I began playing the saxophone at the same time I took up the piano. I entered my undergraduate program in 1992, majoring in music education with the saxophone and piano as my principle instruments. During my studies at the University of South Alabama, a new program was started in MIDI and I attended an extra year to master digital audio. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

Robert Gilliam is a skilled musician and passionate teacher with a strong background in classical and jazz music. Holding a Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and currently pursuing a Master of Music at The Juilliard School, Robert has studied under renowned saxophonists Tim Green and Ron Blake. With experience as a performer alongside notable musicians and participation in prestigious festivals, Robert brings a wealth of knowledge and stage experience to his teaching. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

For younger students/beginners, I am a huge advocate of the Rubank Elementary Method for Saxophone, since it covers a lot of the basic materials such as note values, scales, and arpeggios. For students who have progressed past this stage, I introduce "The Art of Saxophone Playing" by Larry Teal which introduces some more advanced rhythmic and articulation concepts. For saxophone students of all levels I strongly recommend Sigurd Rascher's "Top Tones for Saxophone" because it develops a students understanding of how to develop a strong sound and knowledge of the overtone series. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Euphonium French Horn Tuba

I prefer to let students advance at their own pace so that they don't feel rushed and get discouraged. For younger students/beginners I keep an open line to the parents for extra support. I bring my instrument to the lesson and demonstrate as I teach. I center on encouragement and emphasizing a student's successes. I will change a lesson book/publisher if I sense that the student is either struggling with a particular book, or is not being challenged in a particular method and is becoming bored. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I have taught all kinds of topics to all kinds of students and like to accomodate the particular interests of different students. I often find that students should set performance goals even if it is just a performance for friends and family. This helps establish workable milestones in the student's progress. I also like students to help model their own education by studying repertoire that interests them. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

For younger and beginning students, I typically start with technique exercises that focus on producing a strong and clean sound on the instrument, and ensure that the base technique is solidified. We will then work through various technique and work books until the student is at a level where they can choose the music that interests them most. For adults and more advanced students, I like to gear the lessons toward what they want to learn, and provide them with the tools they need to reach their goals. Read More