Voice Lessons in Oakland, CA

Instruments: Saxophone

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
It was a gradual decision for me, I knew I always loved music and wanted it to be apart of my life but I was not sure to what capacity until I started entering college, which I quickly realized I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
It does not, I’m the only one that does this actually.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
The Halo 2 soundtrack because I do not play any of those instruments and it’s beautifully scored.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
Something with animals, I would love to be a veterinarian!

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
Jazz because it’s challenging and new every time you play it. No solo is ever the same.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I decided to pick up my other instruments out of necessity, I was in college jazz band and needed to learn flute for a few songs and picked it up from there. I also started on clarinet.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have a BA in music. I chose to get this degree because I could not see myself doing anything else with my life. I am meant to do this.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
It really varies day-to-day, but generally I start out with long tones and a tuner for no longer than 10 mins. From there is where it varies greatly, really depends on what needs to get done based on a number of things such as gigs coming up, album work, etc.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
Developing a deep understanding of harmony and connecting lines during soloing using smooth voice leading.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I heard my band teacher playing the saxophone during jazz band and knew at that moment that that's what I wanted to sound like.

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of recording my own original material and seeing it pressed into physical form. It was a lot of hard work but it paid off.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Yes I did, his name was Greg Metcalf. They inspired me by always having a good attitude and using humor as a teaching tool. He was an amazing and very accomplished saxophonist as well, the combination of humor, intelligence, the ability to put concepts into easily digestible chunks, and attitude inspired me deeply, and continues to.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I like to use the Rubank saxophone books Easy-Advanced, any number of Jamey Abersold books, and the Real Book Vol. VI. I use more than just those, but those tend to be ones my students spend the most time in.

When will I start to see results?
This varies on a multitude of factors. The big one being practice. How much time do you or your child spend practicing every week? This answer will vary based on how new you are to the instrument, how busy your schedule is, etc. The unpopular but true answer is, you will see results when you start practicing regularly. Repetition and routine are the keys to seeing results more quickly. Also, what and how are you or your child practicing? Practicing the right material the right way is key to seeing results. Anyone can noodle around and play a bunch of notes, but if you want to see drastic improvements, make your practice efficient and quality.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Slow and deliberate. If you make a mistake, stop playing. Isolate where the mistake happened, analyze why it happened, then practice that section slowly and in chunks. Once you can play that section slow, raise the tempo gradually until you can play that section above the tempo of the piece. Finally, add that section in with the rest of the music, under tempo, to make sure you can play it in context. Once you succeed at playing that section under tempo, raise the tempo to the tempo the piece will be played at. If you continue to make mistakes, repeat this process.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
If your child expresses genuine interest in wanting to learn, then they are ready.

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