Saxophone Lessons in Wallingford, PA

Instruments: Piano Saxophone

For all of my students of any age, I typically start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements and learning a recognizable song hand picked by the student and approved by me. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce jazz repertoire, sight reading and things like, technical exercises, jazz improvisation, theory, ear training and classical music etudes. I also introduce my students to composition and different musical creation techniques. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Synthesizer Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn Acoustic Guitar

For my beginning piano students, I emphasize the twelve major and minor scales with proper fingering, first one octave and then two octaves. These exercises strengthens fingers and create more familiarity with the keyboard. I use the book, Level 1 The Older Beginner Piano Course by James Bastien and the companion book, Musicianship for the Older Beginner. I have seen results when these books are used in tandem. The student increases in technique and start to master music theory simultaneously. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

This productivity, as well as constant refinement under the guidance of Ralph Bowen and Victor Lewis, resulted in an honors college guided senior recital with all original material and an accompanying 40-page honors thesis on my personal process in jazz composition. As well as practicing and composing for many hours every day, I made Dean’s list every semester throughout my college career and maintained a high GPA, ultimately graduating with highest honors, Summa Cum Laude with an Honors College certificate and award. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Keyboard

While my lessons are catered to each individual student, each follows a general curriculum that I have developed over the years through teaching. Method books are a great structured way to quickly get confident on an instrument, however they don't often encourage listening skills or creativity. This is why I structure my lessons around particular method books like Rubank or Faber while providing additional pieces, exercises, and improvising to supplement the book. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

For beginning students, I start with Essential Elements, or another comparable method if their band program uses another book. Once the student reaches middle school and has a good concept of fundamentals, we progress to the Himie Voxman Selected Studies and Duets books. For high school and advanced middle school students, I use the Baermann Division III book, the Klose Method, the Rose etudes for clarinet, as well as beginning to introduce appropriate solo repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Piccolo Oboe

My teaching experience began in 1980 at Russo Music in Trenton NJ. I have taught a range of students from beginners to professionals. Many of my former students have gone on to become professional musicians in their own right. I have taught at schools in the Philadelphia, Bucks, Berks, Chester and Lancaster Counties as an adjunct professor. I teach all the woodwind families. Saxophone (bari, tenor, alto, soprano), Flutes (piccolo, alto, soprano), Clarinets (bass, soprano) and Oboe. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

A beautiful sound is the beginning of the creation of beautiful music! I find it most important to do work on a student's sound in the beginning stages of playing. To achieve the foundations of a good sound, playing pitches (beginning with A on alto) on the mouthpiece alone will develop the student's sound from the beginning as well as lay the foundations for a good embouchure. Doing this brings awareness to the students use of air by showing him/her the muscules used within and around the oral cavity in order to produce an optimal sound on the saxophone without developing bad habits that could be detrimental to a student's health. Read More