Saxophone Lessons in Connoquenessing, PA

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

For beginning and intermediate clarinet and saxophone students I like using the Yamaha Advantage books or the Belwin Series. I like to use these lesson books and supplement with solo and duet material. I always encourage my students to bring in material they'd like to work on, from school band music to popular tunes they are intereseted in learning. I think it is important for all aspiring musicians to collaborate with others and make sure to play along with students in our lessons. I ask my students to plan their practice time each week, as I know how busy we all are! Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

For classical studies, there are some standard saxophone repertoire books I like to go to. For brand new students, I use Essential Elements books, for intermediate students I use Rubank method books, and for advanced students I use the Ferling etude book. For jazz studies, I begin students with Lenny Neihaus' Jazz Conception for Saxophone, which lays a great foundation for jazz and swing playing. After this, I do a lot of ear training and memorization exercises for tunes, and talk about chord-scale theory. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Saxophone

I look forward to watching my students learn and mature in their music. It is important that each student feels comfortable and not rushed in their learning progression. Therefore, I will make sure each student is learning at their own pace and feels comfortable enough to stop me if I am moving too fast. I will work with my students to set realistic goals for the week. Additionally, I seek to find ways to make practice fun and individualized to each students so that they want to practice when they get home. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute

I find that I am at my happiest when I am instructing people in one of my greatest loves, music. In 2018, I graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of the Arts in Music, my emphasis being the saxophone. I have performed with numerous ensembles and one of the greatest rewards I get from playing is seeing the joy that it brings to others. During my four years at Ohio, I was able to play with the community symphony and it was there that I was able to see what music does for people in bringing them together and creating a strong sense of community, understanding, and joy. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

I encourage progress. I love to see students become stronger and more confident musicians. I like to get students as much into "the real world" as possible, so I push for getting students performing as much as they are learning. I separate practice from performance, with an understanding that how a student sheds will be the core of what is possible in a performance setting.  Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute

I grew up in Georgia fully embracing my band nerd. I started playing the saxophone in middle school and took weekly lessons. This led me to go on to college to study music. The saxophone lends itself to play in all genres like jazz and even classical music. I bring a mix of these into the lessons I teach to help students become well versed in saxophone literature. I am also a flute player who can work with beginnrs and intermediate players. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

For beginning students who are children, I typically teach the book that they use in band class. If they/the parents would prefer a specific book or are not in band, I typically use Standard of Excellence, the red book and then progress to the blue book. Once the student understands the fundamentals and has progressed, I then begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance.  For adults, I learn of what the student is interested in and then I guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter the ability. Read More