Saxophone Lessons in Manhattan Beach, CA

Instruments: Saxophone

My teaching style has a balanced mixture of work and play. The work comes first and is always the forefront of each session. This will include warming up with long tone exercises, scales for balance and technique, sight reading and ear training. The play part means taking a break from the instrument, listening and discussing everything that we hear. It's a fun way to take their mind off of music assignments even though we're still practicing a form of ear training. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Saxophone Electric Guitar Djembe Acoustic Guitar

I began teaching guitar lessons back in 2008 and have been doing so for almost 10 years. After my bachelors I was then hired by the Community Arts Partnership through CalArts and have been teaching/facilitating workshops throughout Los Angeles teaching West African drumming, singing and dance. I have taught all ages from kindergarten to adults. I have also had the privilege to teach in the Juvenile Justice System, The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and other community based centers throughout Los Angeles. Read More

Instruments: Voice Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

When I was in middle and high school, I can say that I was not the most talented saxophonist. Even in college, I had to play catch-up. I never had access to a teacher that provided me with the insight to develop myself. That was true until, my third year of higher education. My passion and drive to become a better version of my past flared. For me, music is a passion and my life, but it is secondary to me. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums French Horn Oboe

I truly believe that all learning, while serious in nature, should be fun and exciting in methodology. Living in the age of technology, there are so many ways to make learning fun and interesting for students. Whether it be sharing information from Youtube, educational sites such as The Teaching Channel, using digital music apps such as "Smart Music" for assessment, showing a student how to record themselves on their smartphones, all of these things can be brought in to the instructional experience. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Saxophone Drums Mallet Percussion

I'm a firm believer in self motivation. Having a good teacher is important but having a great student is paramount. I love to develop concepts that work for the individual student whom I'm relaying ideas to. Whether it is theory or academia or the idea of honest expression, all these facets of teaching have always been inspiring to me. I can mock up many different playing situations to accommodate any level of player. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

For younger beginning students, I typically use a method book, such as Accent on Achievement or something similar. For older beginners, I typically use the Rubank beginner's book. With this book, the student learns the fundamentals for their instrument. Once the student demonstrates an understanding of this, we will move on to sheet music. For more advanced students, we will typically use an etude book like Klose to explore the technical aspects of musical performance (such as technique development, phrasing, dynamics, etc.). Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

With private students, I customize my teaching methods to how each student best learns. I have several methods to teach most music concepts and saxophone technique so that I can better connect with each student’s learning style. I find students have a more enjoyable experience when I give them the chance to learn what they would like to play. For jazz students, I first have them identify a musician they enjoy listening to and begin exploring what makes that player unique. Read More