Saxophone Lessons in West River, MD

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder

I am a passionate and patient instructor who loves to help students find joy in making music. I believe that developing a methodical way of practicing and thinking about music reading, tone production, and creating rhythm is the key to unlocking students' abilities to enjoy the music they produce. In 2008 I graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. During my ungraduate years I studied classical saxophone with Dale Underwood and was selected as a soloist with the university's concert band on two occassions. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

In college I took a woodwind pedagogy class because I wanted to focus my teaching on my primary instruments rather than a general knowledge of music. I began teaching professional in the summer of 2013 when I worked for the Bel Air School of Music(now defunct) as a Saxophone and Clarinet teacher. While I believe strongly in the importance of musical fundamentals, I also like to think outside the box as a teacher. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet

Teaching music to students has always been a huge passion of mine and developing a love of music is always my top priority. I had a lot of bad habits that developed over years so it will always be my goal to make sure this isn't the case with my students. Playing music should be fun, never too hard or painful. I will put a big emphasis on posture and building proper habits from the beginning. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I love to see my students overcome challenges in music. My music teacher used to say, "nothing is hard, or difficult, just challenging." If students learn how to practice effectively on their own, learning new music becomes easier over time. I teach my students how to approach a certain rhythm, phrase, or fingering and the techniques to do so correctly such as by slowing down and practicing with a metronome, our muscle memory will be able to play it up to speed once it's learned. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Flute Synthesizer Music Keyboard

My methods are different for every student, but I always start with fundamentals. This includes scales, exercises to improve sound and intonation, reading, writing, improvisation, and most importantly listening. Depending on the path the student choses, some areas will be focused on more than others. I will often introduce more advanced concepts early if the student displays interest in them. I am not the kind of instructor who will say "play your etudes first and then we can talk about improvisation." I almost quit shortly after I started music because I had an instructor with that outlook. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bassoon

Although it is my responsibility to teach fundamentals of playing the instrument and reading music correctly, I spend as much time as I can on not becoming enslaved to the printed page. In other words, once a student begins to play at a higher level, I introduce how to express oneself and the music in an aesthetically satisfying manner. Breaking down the barriers caused by musical notation and enabling an individual to express themselves musically and with proper phrasing and sensitivity is my primary goal. Read More