Approach

My teaching style is based on fundamentals and technique. Once I feel that a student has established a good foundation for playing their instrument, I teach them to not only play the music that is written but also to make the music come alive through the use of dynamics and proper phrasing.

With beginners, I focus on making sure that they get started with the right embrouchure and posture so that the physical act of playing the instrument itself will come easily to them within a few months. I use a four step process to teach them how to read music. This process enables them to learn most of a song before they even put the instrument to their mouth. I always make sure that music remains a fun activity for them.

For intermediate students, the most important thing becomes developing a good sound on their instrument. This is achieved through a variety of different exercises and by continuing to perfect their embrouchure. I make sure that students memorize all twelve of their major scales. This benefits their playing immensely. We also work on etudes to continue to develop their individual playing technique.

If I can further a student’s understanding and appreciation for music, I have helped them to grow in their appreciation of the arts.

For advanced students, the emphasis continues to be on perfecting their sound and developing complete control of their instrument. Now, I will begin to teach students their major scales but using the full range of their instrument for every scale. They will also begin to learn the different variations of the minor scale. At the advanced stage, I work to establish a classical foundation for the students that is achieved through playing more difficult etudes and classical literature for saxophone such as concertos and orchestral excerpts.

Teaching jazz and improvisation takes a somewhat different approach. My jazz teaching starts by making sure that the student has a basic understanding of theory and harmony. Listening to jazz also becomes very important. After a foundation for theory and harmony is established, I will teach students the basics of improvisation by showing them how to develop motivic ideas and how to connect chord tones when building a solo. I also stress transcribing as many solos as possible.

My goal through private lessons is to guide and help the student in their musical growth. I feel that music is an art form, so if I can further a student’s understanding and appreciation for music, I have helped them to grow in their appreciation of the arts.

Books Used

Listed below are different method books that I use for teaching saxophone and clarinet. They are listed in order of difficulty. As a student progresses, they will move through these books successively.

Saxophone Books

Standard of Excellence Book 1
Standard of Excellence Book 2
Rubank Advanced Method Volume 1
Rubank Advanced Method Volume 2
Rubank Selected Studies
“48 Famous Studies” The Ferling Etudes

Jazz Saxophone Books

Jazz Conception Easy by Jim Snidero
Jazz Conception by Jim Snidero
Jamey Aebersold Volume 3 “The ii - V - I Progression”
Jamey Aebersold Volume 54 “Maiden Voyage”

Clarinet Books

Standard of Excellence Book 1
Standard of Excellence Book 2
Rubank Intermediate Method
Melodious and Progessive Studies Volume 1 by David Hite
Melodious and Progessive Studies Volume 2 by David Hite
Celebrated Method for the Clarinet by Klose

Here is a link to the Lakeview Studio in Chicago where I teach:

BackBeat Music
www.backbeatmusic.net