Don T
Instruments: Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Recorder
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Swing, New Age, Bossa Nova
Don T
Instruments: Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Recorder
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Swing, New Age, Bossa Nova
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 15-80
BA, College of St. Rose, Composition MA, Hunter College, Performance
Who's Who in American Music, 1976
I am a professional multi-instrumentalist in both jazz and classical music. I have been teaching for over 45 years. I have played jazz on both coasts (and Chicago) and have performed in chamber ensembles in New York and New England, playing music from the Renaissance as well as more standard repertoire. After earning my degree in composition, which I earned while working as a musician, I fell in love with music before 1750, learned the instruments and techniques to perform it properly and got my MA.
I have been teaching for over 45 years, mostly in students' homes. I started in the 1970's in my NYC apartment and since moving to Westchester 30 years ago have been going to student's homes. Many of my students have been accepted to colleges as music majors or minors and my students frequently get the highest ratings in solo competitions. School band directors often recommend me as a coach for their most serious students, since school music programs usually do not have the capacity for intensive individual coaching. I also always try to include a little wordplay or silliness. Practicing can be tedious, so thinking of a joke can't hurt.
For beginning young students I prefer the Rubank Elementary Method for saxophone, clarinet and flute, and my own (unpublished) method for recorder. For older beginners, there are many books on the market. I'll work with what the student perfers. For more advanced students there are classic works such as Klose for clarinet or saxophone, solo works for competition or performance, or just for fun. I want recorder students to learn the 2 basic sets of fingering, since ensemble playing usually requires changing instruments.
I want students to learn what they're most interested in, with the caveat that I can teacg them a "song" or I can teach them the instrument and they can play any song. Whenever I can I play duets with the students. It makes what they're doing sound more like music. And I make mistakes. That shows that mistakes are no big deal (1 wrong note is a mistake. Make the same mistake repeatedly, you're doing it wrong). I teach students to use "pro fingering" whereever necessary. And I ardently believe in teaching playing "by ear" as well as reading music. It helps them "hear on the instrument" and will be totally necessary for playing jazz or baroque & renaissance music.
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