Saxophone Lessons in Unity, MD

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet Music

I've enjoyed teaching a wide variety of students each year since 2009 with most being middle or high schoolers. Many students the opportunity to perform in recitals or other public performances and several students successfully auditioned for Maryland All State Ensembles. I was a private instructor and led woodwind sectionals at the Bullis School in Potomac, MD where I taught lessons for 8 years. My favorite style of music is from the Hard Bop Jazz Era of the 1950s-60s but I also enjoy teaching and performing a wide variety of styles. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

All lessons are tailored to each students ability level, with the goal of creating specific, achievable objectives to foster a successful environment. Students tend to enjoy working on what they are passionate about, so I am interested in finding where a students musical passion exists, and incorporating it into lesson plans and assignments. I do not tolerate shortcuts, but rely on positive reinforcement to encourage students to develop their skills thoroughly. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar

As you can see from my profile picture, I have expanded my instrument playing capabilities so that I can teach many different instrument families. I am a current elementary music teacher as well as a private instructor. I am proficient in and can provide basic-intermediate instruction in all instruments listed in my profile. I also have experience teaching each of those instruments. For advanced students preparing for college auditions, I can teach saxophone and jazz piano. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Bass Guitar Organ Music Keyboard

Later on, students will learn to read music in-depth--not merely replicating what's represented on the page exactly as-is, but with a broader and deeper understanding of the movements and relatativities taking place within the music, while building an ability (and feeling of mobility) to experiment with re-harmonization, substitutions, and alterations of all sorts. Especially at beginner levels, students often are flooded with an endless stream of lifeless representations, scales, formalities, technicalities, and special names, and as a result, their interest becomes stifled. "Music" comes to mean a drab exercise with an authority figure instead of the rich, profound, imaginative, vibrant, feeling, potent, and meditative social being that it can be. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Flute Recorder Piccolo Music Keyboard

I have made sure to transfer all of these skills to my private teaching. I am very direct with my students and act as facilitator in lesson discussions, and to try not making decisions for them. I heavily employ the "trial by fire" and "sink or swim" methods, as I've found those the most effective in my lifetime of learning new things. However, I am flexible in going back and reteaching and remodeling, as long as we still keep our "eyes on the prize", whether that be personal rewards, scholastic musical awards, musical career advancement, music therapy approach/feelings, etc. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

For beginning students who are children, I usually start with a songbook, such as the Accent on Achievement method book. Once the student has a grasp on the fundamentals, I begin to introduce solo repertoire. For adult students, I try to find out what the student is interested in pursuing, and then if they are a beginner, I teach fundamentals through the Rubank method books and supplement with songs that are approapriate to the student's taste. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Djembe

My approach to teaching is based on a large amount of communication between the students, the parents, and I. I love to know what my students are thinking in order to enhance what they are looking for in musicianship. I believe that musicians should be allowed to play and learn freely, however, the foundation given by learning jazz theory, gives any musicianship a bigger dynamic of playing for whatever genre they specifically like to play. Read More