Saxophone Lessons in Westtown, PA

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I began teaching private lessons at the beginning of my time at Michigan State University. I have experience teaching all ages and skill levels including very young first timers up to experienced adults. In addition to private lessons, I have taught at the Apprentices in Jazz Workshop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as a woodwind instructor, improvisation teacher, as well as big band director. While I am most experienced in Jazz, I love playing and teaching all types of music! 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: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I believe that every teacher says this, but I teach at my students learning pace. Especially for beginners I want them to learn how to play their instrument the first time around, not the second or third time. For me as a teacher I set high expectations for my students so they know exactly what they should strive for. I always give positive feedback and then some strategies to help them along their musical way. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Oboe Bassoon

My teaching style can vary with each student each student has a different level of learning accessibility time restraints etc. One of the most important things I try to teach is the student to be his own teacher and whenever practicing whether it be 15 or 20 minutes when they are done with that practice session they have accomplished something some sort of improvement I have studied with teachers from the New York Philharmonic the metropolitan opera and the New York City ballet Orchestra they have all taught me and I pass on to the student to break down whatever they were playing and approach it in a patient manner by repeating and eventually getting their end result Whether it’s a few notes in a piece or a whole solo or exercise Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet Keyboard

My method when teaching students that are starters (kids) i used books like teaching little fingers to play piano and john Thompson which introduce learning of notes, their instrument, posture, and rhythm. Most of these books are in sets and will take the student to an advanced bigger player! From here I incorporate a method of learning at least 3-4 pieces ( A piece that has mostly a melodic line, a piece that concerns more of rhythmic exercises and then to a last piece which is a study) i will also top it up with scales and arpeggios and also a sense of knowing your instrument overall, listening , Aural and also incorporate sight reading . Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Ukulele

For beginner flute and sax students, I like to work out of the Standard of Excellence Books, and for beginner piano I like to use Bastien Series books. I have used these books in my development and am very comfortable and confident with their ability to help studnets progress. Once my students reach a level where they have a pretty solid understanding of music, I start to give them more freedom into choosing what they want to do. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I vary my methods according to student level, age, and practice habits. For example, for the advanced high school student I often mold my teachings around college audition requirements and all-state, regional band auditions. Otherwise, particularly for younger styudents, I am not very performance oriented. I think it is more important to learn to "play" at music rather than plan and prepare for multiple recitals. Read More