Saxophone Lessons in Passaic, NJ

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Music Keyboard

I focus on tone production, articulation and phrasing. Sight reading, improvisation and music theory follow next. With clarinet and saxophone students I spend a lot of time on reed selection and care. There are so many misconceptions about reed strength and how it relates to mouthpieces that I could talk about it all day (and usually do). I work on clarinets and saxophones every day and consider myself proficient in identifying problems with instruments and then fixing those problems. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Recorder

You can learn so much about a student in a 30 minute trial lesson! If a new student is not a total beginner, I will ask them to play their favorite song (or one of their favorites if they have trouble choosing just one). After their performance, I ask them what they liked about how they played. Its important for students to always be aware of what they do well. If they arent able to see their strengths on their own then I share with them what I think their strengths are and encourage them to keep that up. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I have been teaching music lessons, both on a freelance basis and at the Laconia Music Center, since graduating college in the Spring of 2009. I have also been playing woodwind instruments in a professional capacity since that time. My work as a performer informs my work as an educator and vice-versa. I am afforded the great luxury of musical dynamism by living in New York City, and I am as comfortable in a jazz club as I am reading classical music, or in the horn section of a funk band. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Harmonica

I like to think that I am even-handed with my students: put in the work and show respect, and you will get the same. My teaching style is pretty heavily implied in the above sentence---when the student enters my studio, we will warm up with scales, chords, and modes. Then we will learn whatever new concept we will be learning that day, and finally end the lesson by doing the fun stuff (ie: playing actual songs). Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone

I have been a professional musician and music teacher for almost 20 years. In 2016, I graduated with a doctorate in saxophone performance from Texas Christian University. At TCU, I studied saxophone with Joe Eckert. He is a well-known jazz and classical saxophonist and was the lead alto and director of the "Airmen of Note," the premier jazz ensemble of the US Air Force, for 20 years. I have traveled as a performer for several years, and I have recorded multiple major label projects with various Latin music groups. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Clarinet Drums Synthesizer Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard

The methods that I would typically use are the Arbans complete Conservatory method for trumpet and Cornet. Schlossberg´s Daily Drills and Studies, Clarkes method and Caruso. I have been studying these four methods quite some time now and understand not only the instruction on the page but the purpose of the excercise itself. So for each student and level a unique methodology would be put together. It is very important to point out that I studied these methods with masters such as Victor Paz. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute

For younger students, I find that book based methods are very helpful, and typically I go through the Hal Leonard Essential Elements Series. Once the student has a firm handle of the basics of saxophone (fingerings, embouchure, dynamics, etc.) then I start having them read etude books, and prepare pieces for recitals and other performances or auditions. For adults, I like to teach based on a goal oriented program. For example, If I have a student who is only interested in learning the saxophone for the sake of playing "Yakety Sax" or "The Pink Panther Theme", then I will tailor the lesson plan towards learning that while still working on the fundamentals of Saxophone along the way. Read More