Saxophone Lessons in Jeannette, PA

Instruments: Guitar Voice Saxophone

For beginner students, I like to start with general music understanding before jumping into the specifics. I will make sure the students can read and understand music so that when we start with harder materials it will be easier and more fun. I will make sure that the students have songs and music books that they will enjoy learning and performing. I will leave it up to the students if they wish to do a recital. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Music Keyboard

Students will not continue studying, practicing, and performing if they don't enjoy the lesson experience and relationship with their teacher. Learning happens most meaningfully and rapidly (not to mention is sustained) when students connect with their teacher, and that most easily occurs when teachers are in tune with their students' interests and goals. As a former music student who sometimes had very little input in what I learned on certain instruments, I remember the boredom and sometimes dread on the lesson day! Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

I will use whichever book students are using for their band class in addition to Rubank books. I will begin by teaching fundamentals using these books, then I continue to teach solo repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

I always feel my best when I'm teaching! As a private saxophone teacher, I've taught beginners as well as college students. As a graduate student, I also coached chamber groups and sectionals for younger students. I encourage all my students to keep open minds and to listen to all kinds of music. It's important that my students develop not just a love for music, but also a love for learning. 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: Saxophone Flute

I believe that once a student enjoys what they are doing - that's where the true learning starts. I want to encourage the student to push their limits with their instrument. However, I will make sure that the student plays within their skill level to avoid bad performing experiences. If they want to play a piece that is out of reach for them, I may pick a piece that is very similar to that one with a goal in mind to one day work up to that piece. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute

I like to work with students through the Rubank Method books. These are excellent books for any level musician to pick up and work from. I use these as a foundation of technique that can be translated to repertoire. Again depending on the style of music the student wants/needs to practice, I will pull from etudes, solo transcriptions, and popular music to start building the student's repertoire. I will also work with students on building skills in improvisation. Read More