Saxophone Lessons in West Islip, NY

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Flute Recorder Piccolo Music

For Beginner students I have them start with the recorder. The instrument allows for a smooth segue to the flute being that the student can see their fingers and the recorder does not require the same air speed and lung capacity that the flute does so the student can pace themselves. For intermediate or advanced students I will go through orchestral excerpts, etudes, or technical studies with them. I follow the same model with my adult students, if they are just starting out I will recommend beginning on recorder to solidify fingerings however the mental and physical capacity of an adult versus a young child are very different. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums

I am a 20 year musician with 11 years teaching experience. Born and raised in New York City, I attended Laguardia high school for music and art and afterward Queens College majoring in music. My main instruments are Clarinet, Drums, and Saxophone, but i also have a strong background in Piano, Trumpet, and Flute. I've taken private music lessons for the past 15 years with world class musicians, among them David Weber and Howard Hirsch. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Bass Guitar Synthesizer Accordion Ukulele Euphonium French Horn Tuba Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My pedagogy is based on the American jazz tradition and the teachings of Orff and Kodaly. I like to impart a holistic love of music in my students, without boring them with too much history or theory. However, it is my belief that theory and musical literacy will open doors to a greater level of fulfillment and understanding of music as a whole. The materials I use vary from student to student and from instrument to instrument, depending on each student's goals and progress. Read More

Instruments: Saxophone Flute Clarinet

I've taught private lessons in the New York area for 15 years. Over years of touring internationally, I've been involved with running workshops on Eastern European music at festivals and cultural centers. And, while working on my master's degree at Queens College, I founded and directed the Queens College Balkan Music Ensemble, devising a curriculum for students that had no familiarity with Balkan music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Clarinet Synthesizer Music

For beginning students, what I start with generally depends on what instrument they play, but in general, I use various "Essentials" books. As the student progresses past the fundamentals of music and playing their instrument, I will move on to more advanced or technical musical exercises, as well as solo repertoire if the student is looking to perform for a recital, NYSSMA, etc. My teaching style for older, more advanced students is relatively the same, excluding the "Essentials" and fundamentals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Saxophone Clarinet Recorder

Incidentally, I started teaching when I was still learning myself; in grade-school, on the recorder. I learned early on that my ability to play by memory and through ear afforded me a stark intuitive advantage over peers my own age; naturally, they came to me during our shared lessons to inquire about my talent. While neither of my abilities was necessarily a teachable factor, they did endow me with the ability to "know" my music - through a bit of compositional translation, I was able to share tidbits of knowledge among my colleagues. Read More

Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet

My first student was a NYC firefighter that I met in October 2001 right after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was looking for a way to distract himself from the experience that he had gone through. Working with him and seeing how simply playing a note on the saxophone changed his vibe and relaxed him, I realized that music truly heals. Since then, my approach has been to get to know my student well and discover how I can help them enjoy the learning process. Read More