Saxophone Lessons in Ronkonkoma, NY

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I want my students to enjoy their music lessons, I don't want it to feel like a chore. It can be really fulfilling when I see a student playing or singing something with joy! I pay close attention to what exercises students seem to want to spend the most time on and the ones they get frustrated with. This helps me balance the lesson by breaking things up and putting them in an appropriate order so the student will stay engaged. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I believe each student is different and because of that every student needs to be taught differently and at their own pace. Learning a new skill can be frustrating and because of that my goal is to acknowledge accomplishments, and to give students more creative freedom as their skills on the instrument grow. I believe it is this formula that pushes students into practicing. With each skill mastered the student can directly see the application of the lesson they just learned in an everyday musical situation. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Recorder Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Acoustic Guitar

When I approach teaching drums, I start by assessing the student's current level of knowledge and ability. This helps me understand what they are comfortable with and where they need more guidance. I also ask about their goals and what they hope to achieve through their drumming journey. This allows me to tailor my lessons to their specific needs and interests. Next, I break down the basic elements of drumming, such as proper grip and posture, and make sure the student is comfortable and confident with these fundamental techniques. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Music Keyboard

My teaching experience began when I was in college. I began teaching flute, clarinet, and saxophone lessons out of a music store in Upstate New York in 2016. This time was largely spent with complete beginners on their instruments, and it was incredibly rewarding. I focused on a balance of fundamentals like scales and long tones, formal repertoire such as classical and jazz pieces, and time for whatever the student was interested in whether that be pop, hip hop, or rock music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

Currently Hal Leonard publishes a huge catalogue of music minus one style books with styles ranging from Broadway shows, jazz and pop, to classical repertoire. There are accompaniment tracks online which can be played at different tempos so you can practice slowly and gradually speed up the tempo. Concurrently, if a student is interested in studying jazz improvisation, there a many tools and techniques that I use to help them get started, and to improve their skills. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Music Keyboard

Growing up in a musical family instilled a love of music as a child. My father was an accomplished jazz pianist and when I was 15 years old I began playing professionally. I had great teachers in my formative years, from my father, my band directors and to my private instructors, I learned that developing simple concepts to tackle seemingly complex ideas was the key to my success. I graduated from Texas State University in 2001 with a B.A. in Music Performance. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I have been teaching woodwind students of all ages for more than 10 years, in a variety of settings from public and private schools, individual and small group lessons and concert band and jazz ensembles. I believe that private lessons are a partnership between the teacher and student, and have found that students thrive when they are  inspired by their lessons and experience the success of mastering a fun, new piece of music. Read More