Saxophone Lessons in Wheaton, MD

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Bass Guitar Organ Music Keyboard

I have a vibrant personality and I love teaching, especially when it comes to helping students grasp things where traditional teaching methods have proved to be intimidating or unaccommodating. I have performed in a variety of ensembles and have produced multiple volumes of my own compositions. My musical background is rooted in jazz, funk, soul, and latin music, and my teaching method will tend to emphasize "grooves," with a special eye toward harmony, syncopation, comping, and improvisation. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

For the past decade I have been performing with the U.S. Navy Music Program in places like Australia, Japan, Costa Rica, New Orleans, and Norfolk, Virginia. I've been a featured soloist on clarinet and saxophone with concert bands, jazz bands, rock groups, and brass bands. Before joining the Navy I taught band and woodwind classes for a public school in Northeast Ohio, and I'm excited to begin working with students in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. 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

My method focuses on the student's goals. Once the student's goals are established, I focus on the techniques required to achieve said goals. In addition to "traditional" instrumental technique, I focus on listening and analysis (for intermediate/advanced students). For beginners, I use Hal Leonard's Essential Elements. My method focuses on the student's goals. Once the student's goals are established, I focus on the techniques required to achieve said goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I consider myself to be both traditional and old school at certain times, however. I firmly believe that students will lose interest in music quickly if I always teach all students the same techniques and follow conventional music theory. For piano lessons I usually begin without any books until they are comfortable with the weight and the feel of the piano keys. After that I really like to use the John Thompson's piano book grade 1, and I have had many good results with my students in the past. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet

Progression is my primary goal for each student. When my students grow, I grow. It is imperitive that each student remembers that growth is an individualized thing. I first encourage my students to set goals. Knowing what my student has an interest in doing/becoming will help me understand better how to pace the lessons. I always encourage consistent practice and acknowledging each student's accomplishment helps drive the student's desire to want to progress. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

I am a recent VCUarts Music graduate. My concentration was jazz saxophone. I have been playing saxophone for over 20 years, but the last four years have been intense, as I was working diligently to complete my music degree. I have been a member of several small jazz ensembles since 2019, and I also served as lead tenor saxophonist in VCU's Jazz Orchestra I for two years. My biggest takeaway from VCU is that I have a genuine love for music, and I am committed to spending the rest of my life learning about it. Read More