Saxophone Lessons in Mount Royal, NJ

Instruments: Saxophone

For four years during my undergraduate studies, I got to spend an hour a week with Ralph Bowen’s gentle, understated method of teaching. He worked to get to know me personally, and then crafted lessons around my specific needs. With surgical precision, he conveyed information and assigned work and entirely because of his teachings, I improved a tremendous amount while loving music, myself, and him. Every student is different – this fact is cause for the gnarliest and most beautiful moments in education. 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 Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Acoustic Guitar

I usually start my beginning piano students who are children, in Alfred's Basic Piano Library, Lesson Book 1A. After a few months, I begin adding solo repertoire that is appropriate for age and ability. For middle school age students and adults, I start with Alfred's Basic Piano, Adult, Level 1. I also like to find out the student's individual interest and find repertoire that they are interested in learning and that are aligned with their current skills. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Synthesizer Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn Acoustic Guitar

For my beginning piano students, I emphasize the twelve major and minor scales with proper fingering, first one octave and then two octaves. These exercises strengthens fingers and create more familiarity with the keyboard. I use the book, Level 1 The Older Beginner Piano Course by James Bastien and the companion book, Musicianship for the Older Beginner. I have seen results when these books are used in tandem. The student increases in technique and start to master music theory simultaneously. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Saxophone Bass Guitar Double Bass

I am a dedicated musician and educator that seeks to expand my students' abilities of self expression through music. I graduated from University of Vermont with a double major in Music Theory/Composition and Spanish. I am continuing my studies with a Master's of Arts in Teaching from University of the Arts. I also hold an MA in Spanish language from Middlebury College where I was very active in playing live music for the co-curricular dance program, poetry nights, and studied the intersection of music and linguistics. Read More

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

For any beginning student, I make it a thing to always teach by ear as well as by sheet music. I find it equally important to be able to hear the notes that one can play on their instrument just like they can see the notes they can play in the process. The first two topics I will always focus on, regardless of the material, is the sound of the rhythm, eventually allowing the notes themselves to fall into place. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Ukulele

For beginner flute and sax students, I like to work out of the Standard of Excellence Books, and for beginner piano I like to use Bastien Series books. I have used these books in my development and am very comfortable and confident with their ability to help studnets progress. Once my students reach a level where they have a pretty solid understanding of music, I start to give them more freedom into choosing what they want to do. Read More