Saxophone Lessons in Seagate, NY

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: Saxophone

Gabe B. is a freelance saxophonist, composer, and educator based in New York City. Originally from Curitiba, Brazil, he moved to the United States at age 12 and developed a love for jazz and the saxophone. Gabe has performed professionally in a wide variety of contexts including extensive jazz, pop, and musical theater work, cruise ship showbands, and off-broadway touring. Gabe earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of South Carolina, Summa Cum Laude. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I love helping my students discover what inspires them about music. Through working with each student's individual needs I am able to tailor my lessons to match them perfectly. My goal is to bring out the joy in music for my students. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

My first student was a NYC firefighter that I met in October 2001 right after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was looking for a way to distract himself from the experience that he had gone through. Working with him and seeing how simply playing a note on the saxophone changed his vibe and relaxed him, I realized that music truly heals. Since then, my approach has been to get to know my student well and discover how I can help them enjoy the learning process. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I start beginners off with the Rubank Elementary Method, which introduces reading, scales, arpeggios, and expressive devices such as dynamics and articulation. I also like students to start with improvisation, composition, and ear training as soon as possible. I encourage them to both work on whatever repertoire interests them and find new types of music they don't know they're interested in yet. More advanced students may progress to some of the more advanced music theory, technical etude books, and scale/arpeggio exercises. 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: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Mallet Percussion

Finally, student interests are very important to me. If a student has a strong desire to learn a song or study a topic, it would be wrong for me to deny them this opportunity. The only exception would be if a student wanted to learn something that was seriously out of their current level. In that case I would find a simpler version for the student, or I would scaffold other songs or exercises to build the necessary skills that are needed to reach that goal. Read More