Saxophone Lessons in Canandaigua, NY

Instruments: Saxophone

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements as well as learn the basic techniques on how to play the saxophone. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, regardless of their ability level. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Saxophone Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Banjo Mandolin Tuba Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

I approach teaching music with patience and enthusiasm. I realize that there is an ebb and flow in every person's life and progress cannot be measured in an even intervals. Although I am pleased at a student progress, humanity is vast and always surprising me. Each of us are indeed unique and revered. Even as we learn we can enjoy all the leaps and bumps along the way. As with any teaching method, consistency is attendance breeds the best learning environment. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

The first thing a teacher must do is figure out how to motivate a student to practice. This can be done differently for different students. I will list some things that I have found that work. 1) Set a practice schedule/timer/alarm 2) I work on mindset and practice techniques to reduce practice session frustration/anxiety and increase positivity and feel good emotions 3) The student selects songs to practice in addition to scales, lesson book or repertoire 4) Parental support and priority 5) Listening to music outside of lesson 6) Practice one concept at a time 7) Limit faster passages to smaller groups of notes, practice slow with different patterns. 8) more in lesson!....... Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Bass Guitar Banjo Ukulele Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning children, I typically like to use the Alfred series of beginner books depending on the instrument. I also like the students to rely on their ears just as equally, so the other half of the lesson is usually dedicated to learning music without relying on reading music. Of course, this is all dependent on the student's needs or prior experience. More importantly, I want to teach the student what they are truly interested in with music, and I have plenty of material to discuss if they are unsure of this interest. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Saxophone Flute

I will work with each student to help them understand the fundamentals of jazz, for example, knowing major scales, minor scales, and all of the modes that we typically see in most jazz repertoire. For students that are more advanced we will work on learning how to play over common chord progressions and learn how to play songs found in the Great American Songbook. For students at a higher level, we can work on cementing more advanced techniques such as how to play over chord substitutions. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Mandolin Recorder Euphonium Tuba Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Conga Latin Percussion

My method in teaching depends on the instrument and the age. For beginners on band instruments and piano, I would start them with a method book of their choosing (though I would steer them in a good direction). For guitar and drumset, the use of method books is fine...but this would not be my first approach. It is important for students to be familiar and fluent in music notation. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Saxophone Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching style is fairly simple. Whatever the student wants to learn, I will do my best to teach them how to take and conquer each step to get there. I never really had any formal music lessons until college, but I know that when I had a teacher, I wished that I could just learn what I wanted to learn. I want my students to feel absolutely comfortable when we're in a lesson. Read More