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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Saxophone lessons in Los Angeles . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Synthesizer Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
My style is to be open about the types of music my students can learn rather than forcing Mozart on them from day one. I create a relaxed environment without stress and complicated assignments that can feel like schoolwork. Music should be enjoyable for everyone involved. As a composer and arranger, I find it simple to take an established song and create an easier version for my student to learn. Read More
Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums
I have about eight years of professional performance experience, and six years of professional teaching experience. In that time, I have had the opportunity to perform with music and entertainment legends such as Robin Thicke, Fred Willard, Sinbad, Ndugu Chancler, and Edward James Olmos, as well as modern jazz legends like Joshua Redman, Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, Bob Reynolds, David Sanchez, Benny Green, Donny McCaslin, Joe Lovano, and many more. Read More
Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet
For younger beginning students, I typically use a method book, such as Accent on Achievement or something similar. For older beginners, I typically use the Rubank beginner's book. With this book, the student learns the fundamentals for their instrument. Once the student demonstrates an understanding of this, we will move on to sheet music. For more advanced students, we will typically use an etude book like Klose to explore the technical aspects of musical performance (such as technique development, phrasing, dynamics, etc.). Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute Bass Guitar Music Keyboard
As a teacher I can help you grow your abilities on your instrument. Help you achieve the cool warm sound you want from the saxophone. Help you get the dexterity on the instrument you need. And get a more broad understanding of how music is played and created. Throughout my career since I was 16 years old I have taught children, teenagers and adults from beginners to advanced levels. I hold a Masters degree in jazz, composition and teaching from The Rhytmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen and have also taught several courses there and at other distinguished music conservatories. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Harp Accordion Harmonica Lap Steel Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Recorder Lute Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Euphonium French Horn Tuba Piccolo Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Shakuhachi Oboe Bassoon English Horn Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
Derek is a Grammy-nominated trombonist based in Los Angeles, California. Derek completed a BM in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas in 2016 and an MM in Studio Music and Jazz Trombone at the University of Miamis Frost School of Music in 2018. As a freelance musician in Los Angeles, Miami, and Dallas, he has been regarded as a first-call musician in many styles of music for the past 5 years. Read More
Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet
Ever since I was a kid, I had a passion for mentoring and tutoring. Nothing makes me feel as fulfilled as a long day of teaching, having fun with my students and helping them make progress both in their musical studies and development as people. As a performer, my career encompasses anything from classical and jazz concerts to musical theater productions and studio recording sessions. I am constantly looking for new ways to contribute to my craft and find new outlets for performing. Read More
Instruments: Saxophone
My instruction focuses on fundamentals of the instrument which include: Concept of Sound, Tone Production, Technique, Embouchure, Breathing, Scales/Patterns, Equipment, etc. I also teach musical concepts/Theory which include: Reading, Rhythm, Time, 12 Key Centers, Chord/Scale Relation, Musicality/Expression, Jazz Improvisation, etc. Of course, each lesson is tailored to the individual student's current level and ability, as well as the students learning style. For younger students, we start with the fundamentals (as stated above) and add concepts as the student progresses. Read More
Instruments: Saxophone Flute
If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
If I weren't a musician I would most likely be doing computer science. I love coding on computers as a hobby. However, that would never happen because I love being a musician. I want to have a free schedule, and I want to study and practice something that I know I'll love doing for my entire life. I don't want to be stuck in an office all day on a computer, or a cubicle working on things that I don't want to. I'd rather be homeless, working hard to make a buck off the street playing my beloved saxophone than to be stuck in an office for the rest of my life loathing my job. That is very much how far I would go to be a musician.
When will I start to see results?
Results begin to show right away! However, the one important thing that is crucial to the learning process of a child is to be consistent, and to practice as often as they can. Teaching a child information can be lost as easily as it can be retained. However, this can easily be avoided if a child remains practicing as much as they can. Parents can and should help their child as much as they can to also build discipline for the child to be consistent with practice. I will also help and guide students as much as possible!
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Yes my mentor Quincy Cavers. He was the last student of Clark Terry a few years before he died. Quincy lived with Clark for a few years until the day of his death. Clark gave him lessons every day and he spent a lot of time learning from Clark. He was also in his movie Keep on Keepin' On. Quincy inspired me with the way that he played the saxophone and with all of his life lessons and the way he talked about Clark and what he showed him. He taught me a lot of things and prepared me the way Clark tried to prepare Quincy. He inspired me to want to teach other people and pass on the same information to the maybe next Clark Terry.
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
I strongly believe having a planned schedule of when and what to practice will work very efficiently to help you improve and practice what you need. These practice sessions need to be planned throughout the entire day. If they are more than 2 hours of practice, make sure to take at least 10-15 minute breaks in between. Trying to practice mistakes and being extremely exhausted, tired or annoyed of what you're practicing won't help anyone. Distract yourself for a little while on your break to get your mind off of what you practiced. Don't worry, once you go back to it, you're brain is already refreshed and you'll play it better. I learned this from experience. Also, have early morning practices are great because you wake up well-rested, and your brain is reset for the day. This will definitely help you retain more information of what you practiced throughout the day.
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
I believe that any child form the ages 5+ are already able enough to start lessons. Children's brains at that age begin to absorb a lot of information that gets retained the most. Especially in music a child at that age will be ready to start lessons and will actually drastically improve over a short amount of time (1-3 years) and will indefinitely become as well as they are taught and practice their instruments. Children are exactly like human sponges and will definitely be able to start at a young age and so on if they continue with their instrument.
What does a normal practice session look like for you?
A normal practice session for me is about 6-8 hours a day. However, I take 15 minute breaks in between every hour. I sit down, place a metronome, and I begin to practice my basic scales. Major, Dominant, Minor scales are what I begin with at 130bpm 16th notes to the highest and lowest range of my instrument. Then I start working on arpeggios, triads etc. Then I begin to work on more complicated scales like diminished, half-diminished, whole tone, bebop scales, etc. I also work on transcribing different players and their solos by ear with records and youtube recordings.
25 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Saxophone lessons in Los Angeles to students of all ages and abilities.
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