Saxophone Lessons in New Providence, NJ

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: Saxophone

I start out with the basics: Major Jazz Scales, Mixolydian Scales, and Minor Scales, Teaching students the importance of playing long tones is constantly enforced . Simultaneously, students learn how to outline the Blues, and transcribe solos. For more advance students, I teach jazz phrasing, intermediate jazz song outlining and jazz enclosures. Each student receives a cloud drive with songs, charts, demos and other lesson plans. Students that are really hungry can move along at their own pace. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Synthesizer Keyboard

My teaching style is a mixture of a relaxed, conversational feel combined with strong focus. I will constantly insist on stern focus on the material being played- offering big picture ideas as to why a piece is being practiced in a certain way, while asking the student to tell me why such and such a method makes sense. Very small mistakes in the music will be cause to stop and refocus. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Recorder

I use what some have called the target approach. With this method you are working on one concept at a time, and you should always have one concept in mind while you practice. Some examples of beginning concepts are 1) keeping a steady beat, 2) sound quality, or 3) smooth finger technique. In one practice session using the target approach you may spend 10 minutes on target 1) and 15 minutes on target 2). What is important, however, is that you continue to work on a target every day until you find yourself performing that single concept flawlessly and effortlessly. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Music Keyboard

For beginner students who are children, I will typically start with Bastien Piano Elements and/or Piano Adventures. Additionally, I'll incorporate popular musical melodies in EZ plays and have my students begin learning chords so they can begin lead sheet reading some of their favorite tunes. For adults, I'll cater the lesson to what they are looking to accomplish and keep them engaged, learning and continue having fun in their musical element. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet Recorder Keyboard

I'm a composer and musician based in NYC who loves to share my passion for the arts with others. I graduated from the College of William and Mary with a double major in music and physics. During my studies there, I played clarinet in the music department. Additionally, I played both clarinet and alto saxophone in the theater department. During my master's degree at the University of Chicago, I played clarinet in the university symphony orchestra. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

For younger students/beginners, I am a huge advocate of the Rubank Elementary Method for Saxophone, since it covers a lot of the basic materials such as note values, scales, and arpeggios. For students who have progressed past this stage, I introduce "The Art of Saxophone Playing" by Larry Teal which introduces some more advanced rhythmic and articulation concepts. For saxophone students of all levels I strongly recommend Sigurd Rascher's "Top Tones for Saxophone" because it develops a students understanding of how to develop a strong sound and knowledge of the overtone series. Read More