Saxophone Lessons in Middle Island, NY

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Music

I started playing in the 4th grade. I played in RB bands in high school and enrolled at Berklee College of Music where I have a Bachelor Degree in Composition. I also studied privately with Charles Banacos (increible piano and jazz teacher), Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Viola, Joe Allard ( whose Saxophone methods I teach, who was the teacher of every major saxophone player in his day including Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, and countless others ) , learned circle breathing from Rahsaan Roland Kirk, recorded 2 albums at Grammavision with Al Macdowell (Bass player for 40 years with Ornette Coleman). recodered and learned as much as I could grasp from Don Cherry and Ornette. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I began teaching private lessons eight years ago during college. By the end of 2015 I had a studio of over 30 students. I tend to focus on developing a student's sound concept first, so that they can get a beautiful sound out of the instrument at an early age. I also encourage students to play ear-training games and develop an independent melodic sensibility early on. My students have excelled in audition-only honor's ensembles, All-State Bands, band assessments, and some have even written their own songs and performed in recitals. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

For beginning young students I prefer the Rubank Elementary Method for saxophone, clarinet and flute, and my own (unpublished) method for recorder. For older beginners, there are many books on the market. I'll work with what the student perfers. For more advanced students there are classic works such as Klose for clarinet or saxophone, solo works for competition or performance, or just for fun. I want recorder students to learn the 2 basic sets of fingering, since ensemble playing usually requires changing instruments. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Euphonium Tuba

For beginning students, I like to start them on the Hal Leonard Essential Elements. I believe it moves at the proper pacing for young children. For intermediate students, Accent on Achievement works well because I find the music is more challenging. Also I require older students to know scales, primarily Bb, Eb, and F major being that they are the easiest to learn. It is from there that I gradually add a new scale (one every few weeks) until ultimately all 12 major scales are learned. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet Synthesizer Music

For beginning students, what I start with generally depends on what instrument they play, but in general, I use various "Essentials" books. As the student progresses past the fundamentals of music and playing their instrument, I will move on to more advanced or technical musical exercises, as well as solo repertoire if the student is looking to perform for a recital, NYSSMA, etc. My teaching style for older, more advanced students is relatively the same, excluding the "Essentials" and fundamentals. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums

After graduating from college I joined the Peace Corps. I spent 2 years in Tehran, Iran playing in the Tehran Symphony Orchestra. I returned to the U.S. and went back to school to get my Masters degree. I worked as a music teacher in the Bronx, N.Y. for several years. After that I worked at an electronic music studio in Hawthorne, N.Y. The studio eventually shut down and I began teaching Band at the Stamford Public Schools where I taught music at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Read More