Saxophone Lessons in Lafayette, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I've blended my methods with a response to each student I work with by requesting their trust, listening to their places of comfort and interest in playing music, and discovering new avenues of development with the student. I encourage them to draw from those areas in our sessions as we develop our repertoire and enhance individual growth from there. For beginners I tend to start with either Standard of Excellence books or Rubank and build custom practices from there. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

First and foremost, I believe in HONESTY and RESPONSIBILITY to my students. I remember when I took private lessons many years ago with various teachers and thought that I was pretty good at playing saxophone. It was not until I studied under Dr. Keith Bohm that I realized how horrible those previous teachers were. They were negligent and was not able to provide the essential fundamentals for me as a young musician and thus, I developed many, many, MANY bad habits. 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: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Piccolo

I think the best way to teach is to start with what my students are interested in and embed music concepts and theory throughout our lessons.  Additionally, I have a library of method books, lesson plans, literature, and curricula that I like to follow. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

For beginners the first sound is the most important basic thing for a horn player (woodwind or brass). For children I use easy melodies they remember. This is helpful so they won'tget bored or tired easily. There are important transitional mechanisms in the clarinet especially that have to be overcome before starting with the scales studies. The books I use depend on the interest of the students. I have books for JAZZ, BRAZILIAN MUSIC, or CLASSICAL MUSIC (from Concert Solos to Opera overtures). 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

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet

My students fall in love with music and frankly they fall in love with me. Why? Because we, together, create beautiful music together and have fun and inspiring times. Teachers that drive their students to play and do homework produce people that give up on their instruments and then talk to me when they're 30 yrs old, filled with regret that they didn't continue. Not their fault! They were driven to hate their instrument. Read More