Saxophone Lessons in King Of Prussia, PA

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet Accordion

I typically start woodwind students with the Standard of Excellence Comprehensive Band Method series. I like to use the Faber Piano Adventures Series or the Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course for piano instruction. In addition to the method book, I like to incorporate physical/breathing exercises, supplemental warm-ups, sight-reading, music theory worksheets, and student selected repertoire in lessons. I also encourage students to create their own compositions. In the past, I have digitally recorded many of my students' compositions and have really enjoyed encouraging students to express themselves through original composition. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

A beautiful sound is the beginning of the creation of beautiful music! I find it most important to do work on a student's sound in the beginning stages of playing. To achieve the foundations of a good sound, playing pitches (beginning with A on alto) on the mouthpiece alone will develop the student's sound from the beginning as well as lay the foundations for a good embouchure. Doing this brings awareness to the students use of air by showing him/her the muscules used within and around the oral cavity in order to produce an optimal sound on the saxophone without developing bad habits that could be detrimental to a student's health. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

My teaching philosophy, shaped through years of varied classroom and private experiences, revolves around empathy and individuality. Every student is unique in their strengths and deficiencies, and it is my job as a teacher to figure out the most effective and enjoyable method of conveying knowledge. I specialize in creating personal, individualized practice plans and exercises for students, even going so far as writing etudes and recording transcription exercises with specific students in mind. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Piccolo Oboe Bassoon English Horn Music Keyboard

I am an energetic woodwind multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator born and raised in Philadelphia, always open to musical opportunities regardless of the style. Since graduating from Temple University Boyer College of Music in 2021, I've been hard at work leading my solo fusion jazz project, GPS (Gabe Preston Sounds or Galactic Prism Sounds), with our debut album [to the stratosphere] currently available on all streaming platforms and a new album in the works later this year. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I first began teaching while still completing my Bachelors degree at William Paterson in 2011. Most of my students were beginning level piano students, but I had a few more advanced students as well as some people studying saxophone with me. My teaching philosophy is to combine teaching the technique of an instrument with learning songs as well as theory and improvisation/composition. Everyone learns technique, but learning music that I wanted to learn, learning how those songs were written (theory), and eventually elaborating on those songs (improvisation), and writing my own music (composition), was what really got me deeply engaged in the act of practicing and making music, and I have found over several years of teaching that it keeps my students engaged and enjoying the learning process. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Organ Double Bass Keyboard

Therefore, strong emphasis is placed on being able to become calm, relaxed yet thoughtful and imaginative when playing. I also believe that a lesson serves four purposes. 1) Learning 2) Modeling 3) Experimenting and 4) motivating. True learning; however, occurs between lessons, so the most important thing is to motivate students to want to practice between lessons. This is the most important challenge -- for this reason, no matter how intense the lesson gets, it is important that students leave the lesson feeling confident and good about themselves NO MATTER WHAT. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Keyboard

Great music lessons are a mix of solid technique building and fun application of those skills. I always spend the first few lessons getting the student familiar with the basic technique of the instrument, and then quickly move on to duets, improvising, sight reading, solos, etc. that tie in with the current technique studies. Music can also be heard or read, so I try to strike a balance between reading music/theory and learning/improvising by ear. Read More