Saxophone Lessons in White House, TN

Instruments: Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Piccolo Music

Fostering the interest in music into a passion within my students is the ideal teaching situation. This is why I place importance on listening to the student's goals to make decisions for certain parts of the curriculum. There are technical and theoretical skills that must be learned, but the students have some choices in materials. Meeting them where they want to be is some of the strongest motivation I can provide for my students. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I love to see kids progress in music and become excited about it!! My teaching style is very paced and hands on. If a student isn't getting something, I like to slow it down until they they do. I'm very complimentary and positive during lessons; this helps the student be confident. I also try to give the student a guideline on how to practice and how to pace themselves throughout this process. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

First, I believe it is important all students have a firm grasp on the fundamentals of the instrument, which may include some scale exercises, for example. Once we achieve a basic level, we can move along to some solo repertoire, etudes, and tunes that target a specific area to keep lessons fun and engaging, all while reaffirming subjects learned previously. Regarding jazz and improvisation, lessons will cover a broad spectrum, ranging from modal improvisation, to bebop and postmodern styles, all while focusing on harmonic functionality and individual expression. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a students desire to progress, and makes students eager to learn more. By trying to find out what inspires the student, I can successfully tailor my instruction to their wants and needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Bass Guitar

My teaching philosophy is "exploration as a road to mastery." I help students build a repertoire they can perform. This tends to be a combination of songs they know and love, and songs that I introduce them to. I introduce the elements of music theory in relation to songs. Scales, harmony, and ear training are grasped better, and enjoyed more, once a student has context. My goal is to have each student feel safe in the learning process, while still pushing them out of their comfort zone. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

While I find most beginning band method books to be effective, I often integrate exercises from saxophone-specific texts, such as: Larry Teal's Saxophonists Workbooks, Rubank Method books of all levels, and for more advanced students Rascher's Top Tones and Londeix's Le Detache. I possess a wide knowledge of repertoire across genres, and cater to students' individual interests. While I foster technical development, I place my main emphasis on the students' enjoyment of the music they are performing, and believe that at every age and skill level one can perform confidently given the appropriate repertoire. Read More