Saxophone Lessons in Waukegan, IL

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums

My methods are executed with one core value in mind: create a life long learner and lover of music. This means I establish the fundamentals of theory with beginning students and reinforce them with intermediate students. Before an instrument is played, the concepts of rhythm, note value, and scales must be approached in an engaging way. With collaboration over curriculum, I would work with the student to find his/her interests and inspiration, making the journey worthwhile and fun! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Flute

I am a professional saxophonist specializing in Jazz performance and have spent many years playing in cities such as Chicago, Boston, New York City, and Rochester, New York. I double on flute and am proficient in that instrument as well. I have taught students for several years now and have taken classes in pedagogy and teaching skills. In addition to the jazz musician side of me, I am also a music therapist. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet Recorder Music

I typically answer questions with a question of my own. My goal is to always make the student THINK about what they're doing when making music - at all levels. There are few things as rewarding than seeing my students learn. I've learned that everyone enjoys learning new things and especially if it's a difficult idea to grasp. I strive to instill a thirst for knowledge in all of my students because this thirst drives musical growth! Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Clarinet

I really enjoy watching the week to week progress of a motivated student and sharing in their passion for the wonderful art of music! I remember when I was a young student and didn't understand why my teacher was having me prepare all those scales and arpeggios? Why couldn't he just make me play better. Well I realized many years later that it just didn't work that way. I had to practice the scales because just like professional sports teams work on fundamentals all the time to keep playing well, so do musicians need to work on fundamentals. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone

When a student begins taking lessons from me, I will first assess their musical abilities and ask them what their goals are as a player. I then create a custom lesson plan. This plan is tailored to their goals, but is also based on the areas in their playing that need attention. Fundamentals are emphasized. Some topics covered in lessons may include reading music, embouchure, air flow, listening, tone quality, reeds, improvisation, and ear training. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Clarinet Bass Guitar Synthesizer French Horn

The most effective teachers that I have had were teachers who recognized these important factors in the student-teacher relationship- that the best education experiences occur when both the student and the teacher embark on a positively-reinforced exploration together as opposed to the teacher solely dictating negatively to the student. It's with this spirit that I intend to conduct every lesson that I teach, because it is also through making the relationship one of mutual exploration and nurturing that I will give my past experiences of joy to my students. Read More