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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Saxophone lessons in Philadelphia . 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 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: Saxophone Flute Clarinet
I first began teaching upon the completion of my undergraduate studies in 2004. At that time the majority of my students were beginners in their first or second year of playing. By 2008 I had completed the first of my two graduate degrees in music. With this accomplishment the students seeking lessons with me generally became older, typically in the junior high and high school ages. It has been my priveldge to help some of these students reach their goals of becoming university and college music majors and scholarship recipients. 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: Saxophone Clarinet
My teaching style begins with creating a positive environment for the student to keep them encouraged and wanting to continue their study. I try to keep the students engaged by finding a balance of what the students want to work on, as well as what I want them to be working on. I understand that every student learns differently, and I won't teach every student the same way. I will give the students goals to reach every week, so they can see the progress themselves, and I always ensure to acknowledge when a student has succeeded with something that was assigned to them. Read More
Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Keyboard
I began teaching in high school, where I taught lessons to the younger students as well as instructed my jazz band in improvisation lessons. I enjoyed problem solving with my students and figuring out the appropriate exercise or explanation to help them get over a particular hurdle. In college I taught at a music school, where I branched out from teaching saxophone to clarinet, flute, and piano as well. I also gained a lot of experience with very young students at this school. 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 Recorder Oboe English Horn
I am a professional oboe player and I love to teach! Inspiring others to make music and learn about music is the most fulfilling part of my career. I graduated with a Master of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland in 2009, and I am the Second Oboe and English Horn player in the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra as well as Co-Principal Oboe of the Endless Mountain Music Festival in Wellsboro, PA. Read More
Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet Oboe
When will I start to see results?
Every child is different and different instruments have different learning curves. There's a saying, "Saxophone is very to learn, but very difficult to play well." That can be said for any instrument. In my opinion if your child is practicing correctly and following the teacher's instructions you will hear the difference weekly. It may be a very slight change but over the period of 2 to 3 weeks you will definitely notice an improvement. Although every parent thinks their child is a prodigy some children don't progress that fast and some children take to the instrument like they were born with it.
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
My very first music teacher taught instrumental music to kids in 4 or 5 different schools. I grew up in a very rural area so music teachers traveled between schools. She was very strict about technique but since we didn't know any better we didn't know we were getting an excellent foundation in our playing. I was only 10 at the time but as I got older I realized how much my teacher loved teaching music and that inspired me. My private sax teacher I had in high school introduced me to jazz. I fell in love with jazz at an early age because of him. While studying oboe at the university my professor had me do tons of listening to baroque music featuring oboe. Again I feel in love with the genre. That professor also introduced me to reed making. I must say reed making is like entering a Shaolin temple in a martial arts movie. Reed making is a long process but if you stick with it, you will become a master Reed Ninja! (yeah, yeah I know Ninja is Japanese)
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
My advice for practicing effectively is follow the directions given to you by your teacher. Follow proper technique for your instrument. Don't waste time playing something you already know. If you sound good while you are practicing, you are not practicing. Practicing is working on things you can't do well not, impressing yourself with what you can do. Don't rush through practice because your favorite show is coming on or you want to get it over with. Set aside the same time every day or every other day for practice.
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Depending on the instrument your child may have to wait until they are in 4th or 5th grade. Piano, guitar, drums can be started at a very early age because a child can not hurt themselves physically. A wind instrument on the other hand can cause a child to strain themselves trying to fill an instrument with enough breath to get a sound. Most school programs start wind players around 8. Any instrument that doesn't involve a child blowing air through it, strings, percussion, piano, and guitar can start as you as their hands will allow to effectively hold the instrument. All woodwinds flute, clarinet, sax, oboe, bassoon etc... and brass, trumpet, trombone, horn, tuba etc... should not be attempted until a child is around 8 or 4th to 5th grade.
24 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 Philadelphia to students of all ages and abilities.
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