James B
Instruments: Saxophone, Clarinet
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Blues, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Swing, Marching Band
James B
Instruments: Saxophone, Clarinet
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Blues, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Swing, Marching Band
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
MM, Northwestern University,Clarinet/Sax Performance BM, Eastman School of Music, Clarinet/Sax Performance
1986 - Eastman School of Music, Performer's Certificate
I have been performing/teaching private lessons for 32 years but I always like the opportunity to work with motivated students from all levels. I have performed throughout the USA and was lucky enough to play in Carnegie Hall in 1990. In addition, I have performed with the orchestras of Elgin, Lake Forest, Milwaukee, South Bend, Springfield, Ft. Wayne, Savannah as well as the pit orchestra for numerous Broadway in Chicago musicals. I teach classical, jazz, rock, blues, swing. I have my own method of teaching but also we can work on whatever style of music you like.
I began teaching when I was still a student at Northwestern University. When I graduated in 1986 with an MM degree I began to pursue it full time which took me to many different middle/high schools in the area. I also taught at Lake Forest College as well as Saint Xavier University. In addition, I have also taught many beginners over the years. Other teaching experiences include group lessons, sectionals, master classes, and playing for patients in the oncology wing at Sherman Hospital.
My method of teaching is based in the standard pedagogy of scales and chords(arpeggios). Those who are beginner and intermediate I usually start with the Rubank series of method books as well as easy to play popular tunes. For those who are at the advanced level I would teach out of the Baermann method book in addition to the Rose studies as well as Kroepsch, Jean-Jean, and Rode. We could also try working on any of the clarinet concertos and sonatas. But I always want to make it fun, so just let me know what music you are interested in and we'' go from there.
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. In other words, practice is something the teacher can't do for the student. The more you put in the more you get out.
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