Saxophone Lessons in Clifton Heights, PA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Organ Double Bass Keyboard

My own mentor was a tough guy... He would stand behind me, yell, shout and pound my shoulder. For sure, it is not for everyone. With most students, I take a calm and relaxed approach. As a child studying the classics, I remember teachers hitting my hand with rulers when I made mistakes. Jazz; however, is a creative art. It also requires making things up on the spot, so the most important skill is not to avoid mistakes, but to be able to recover from them. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Clarinet Synthesizer Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Oboe Bassoon English Horn Acoustic Guitar

I love the learning process and to see students progress through the stages of learning an instrument. I taught myself to play the piano before I started formal lessons. I began playing the saxophone at the same time I took up the piano. I entered my undergraduate program in 1992, majoring in music education with the saxophone and piano as my principle instruments. During my studies at the University of South Alabama, a new program was started in MIDI and I attended an extra year to master digital audio. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet Accordion

I typically start woodwind students with the Standard of Excellence Comprehensive Band Method series. I like to use the Faber Piano Adventures Series or the Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course for piano instruction. In addition to the method book, I like to incorporate physical/breathing exercises, supplemental warm-ups, sight-reading, music theory worksheets, and student selected repertoire in lessons. I also encourage students to create their own compositions. In the past, I have digitally recorded many of my students' compositions and have really enjoyed encouraging students to express themselves through original composition. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

A typical lesson will include Warm ups (for breath and tone development) Technical exercises (scales, etc.) Etudes (changes weekly) Solo repertoire (long-term study) Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student progress and develop as a musician! In order for students to be successful they need to be encouraged and challenged throughout their musical studies. In order to do this, it is important to focus on the fundamentals of the instrument, as well as music that peeks the interest of the student. By having a mixture of fundamentals and music the students truly enjoys, they become driven and self-motivated. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Saxophone Bass Guitar Double Bass

I have been studying and playing music since I was 7. I began on saxophone in my school's concert band and jazz band proceded by my own musical endeavors on electric bass playing rock and jazz music. I spent high school gigging Philadelphia with The Paisley Haze Quintet. In my undergrad studies at University of Vermont, I picked up the upright bass, studying both jazz and classical styles. I became heavily active in the Burlington, VT music scene performing with such groups as: The Object Three, Nuevos Comediantes, Divine Lorraine, Anna Pardenik and the Holy Smoke-Off, Brass Balagan, Duke Aeroplane and the Wrong Numbers, and Grup Anwar. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Keyboard

While my lessons are catered to each individual student, each follows a general curriculum that I have developed over the years through teaching. Method books are a great structured way to quickly get confident on an instrument, however they don't often encourage listening skills or creativity. This is why I structure my lessons around particular method books like Rubank or Faber while providing additional pieces, exercises, and improvising to supplement the book. Read More