Saxophone Lessons in Gatewood, WA

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Keyboard

My main focus is trying to teach students HOW to learn music, so that they can eventually create their own methodology based on what works best for them. I have eight years of experience teaching private lessons, so I understand how to craft a curriculum to an individual's needs. Working with hundreds of different musicians has taught me that everyone learns music differently: some through sight reading, others with audio recordings, others still by watching someone else do it first.  We can work on specific topics during our lessons, but I can also give you a bunch of things to review/work on during your own time. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute

For beginners, whilst working with a Standard of Excellence book, it's important to take the time to work on things on a smaller level throughout. Although working through the books and going onto the next level is the goal, I find it imperative ensure that the techniques are being fully utilized along the way. For example, we don't want to just read the notes and play along, we want to make sure that articulations, tone, breathing techniques and fingering is also being focused on. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

For wind instruments, I use the Rubank method books for exercises and whatever band method book is used in the student's school. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

For my younger students I usually start with major and minor scales tied in with simple to challenging etudes. I do not have a specific book that I work out of, though if the student has one that they work out of I would be happy to accommodate. For adults I usually have the same approach, but we will focus more on a specific genre or style that they may want to emulate. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

Over the years I have truly been lucky to have music take me all sorts of places I had never imagined it could, and so I can only hope to help others in their journey as well. I for one have been able to maintain my fascination and love of music by setting specific learning goals, just slightly ahead of my skill level. Most of the time this turns me towards the greats of the past, as so many jazz musicians have done before. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

Tracy Knoop, Kareem Kandi, Steve Treseler, Dr. Bob Miller as well as NYC based saxophonist Braxton Cook. I am fortunate enough to have been able to play on live radio for a total of 5x as a student at PLU with the Faculty Jazz group and alongside my band 322 which is still going strong. Along with playing in 322, I do work with some producers diving into more genres that incorporate jazz such as some lofi hip-hop and funk. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute

My teaching method is tailored to the desired goal of the student. I commonly employ classical fundamentals, which provide the student with tools needed to play the instrument. These fundamentals include: long-tones (for tone production), scales (for technique), overtone series (for the low/high range of the instrument) and reading music. From here, each lesson is modified to the particular student's goals, whether that is improvisation, playing jazz, performing classical literature, exploring experimental music, etc. Read More