Saxophone Lessons in Cupertino, CA

Instruments: Violin Cello Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Euphonium Music

I was raised in Ohio where I spent my early years dancing. However, as I matured I realized I didn't enjoy dancing so much as I love the music I was moving too. I started on the clarinet in middle school and continued through high school. In college I picked up other instruments as I studied to become a classroom music teacher. I was also a military wife for 16 years before my husband retired from the Navy (so I moved around a lot) and I have 3 children of my own. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

My experience in teaching is not only in the musical aspect. I was also a Spanish teacher for Centro Latino in Berkeley. Teaching music is like teaching another languages. In my specialties, clarinet and saxophone, the pause, breathing and acentuation have a very important part in phrasing the notes. The melody should flow "as we speak", in a normal way and with the right entonation. I have two children who are also musicians, an 11 year old daughter and a 13 year old son. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

Especially for young people, maintaining interest and ensuring that they continue to see the value of their musical education is essential. I remember a very frank conversation with my mother when at 13 I wanted to give up music to play football, and I blame that on the style of teaching I was receiving. Whilst there is stuff not to like about instrumental learning - for some it's scales, for me it was sight reading - the satisfaction comes from masterng these challenges, and if we can keep these short and long term goals relevant to the student, getting the practice hours done may be a litte easier on everyone! Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Music Keyboard

Throughout the years I have gained more and more students, but I have never stopped seeing myself as a student as well. I am constantly discovering new musical concepts and ways of teaching those concepts to my students. I still seek out the expertise of musicians I look up to and pass that expertise on to my students. I also find that my students themselves have a lot to teach me. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

My style of teaching also varies greatly with each individual. Some students have specific music from school or from outside music groups that they want to learn and also need to learn the skills to be able to play that particular music. Other students come with a desire just to improve their current abilities, and we find ways to do that by choosing inspiring music together. Sometimes playing duets is a great way to do that, and when its not possible to play together in real time I make recordings that the student can enjoy playing with. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I'm a passionate professional performer and teacher with extensive real world music industry experience. Performing with various artists from all differing genres, both live performance and on records, yields results with my students. I give my students all the necessary keys needed to succeed on their instrument. Having been a major player on projects with two Grammy nominated artists (John Lee Hooker, Jr and Phil Driscoll) and having performed live with Billy Joel and Paul Simon has given me a different perspective on what is needed to be successful. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

I preach the fundamentals, from building tone to gaining proficiency in theory. I will show my students long tone exercises to develop their sound, scales and arpeggios to develop their technique, sight-reading sheet music, and much more. I encourage my students to explore the genres that fascinate them. For example, if they wish to learn jazz, then I will help them learn standards, transcribe solos, and read chord changes, as well as gain an ability to improvise. Read More