Dylan H. TakeLessons Instructor Saxophone, Flute (Beg - Int), Clarinet (Beg - Int) Jewel St., Brooklyn, NY

Dylan began playing alto saxophone at age 10. He was first attracted to jazz after joining the award winning jazz band at Washington Middle School in Seattle, WA. He moved on to become lead alto in the nationally recognized jazz band at Garfield High School and performed at venues in California, New York, France, Switzerland and Holland. After hearing recordings of John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins in middle school, he began private saxophone studies and continued with top teachers in the Seattle area throughout high school. After spending two years at USC studying with Jeff Clayton and Bob Sheppard, Dylan transferred to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There he studied privately with George Garzone, Bill Pierce, Hal Crook, Shannon LeClaire and Frank Tiberi and took courses with Joe Lovano, Dave Santoro, Phil Wilson and many others before graduating Magna Cum Laude in May of 2003. Dylan has performed and recorded with many famous jazz artists in educational and professional settings. This includes several national tours as a member of Grammy-nominated singer Patti Austin’s band and shows with Joe Lovano, Michel Camilo, Ernestine Anderson, Clay Jenkins, Kevin Mahogany, Don Lanphere, Jay Thomas, Floyd Standifer, Carmen Bradford, and Shelly Berg. He also honed his pedagogy skills while serving as Woodwinds Instructor in the Brookline Public Schools, where he taught flute, clarinet and saxophone to 4th, 5th and 6th graders for three years. He currently teaches and performs on a regular basis throughout the New York area, and is co-leader of the East West Quintet, an emerging jazz/rock group based in Brooklyn that has recently been signed by Sounden Recordings. 

I always make a point to develop a friendship with my students, and find that this creates a more comfortable and productive teaching relationship. I enjoy teaching students of all levels, and am very patient and supportive. I know that kids these days have a lot on their plates, and therefor my main priority is to create an enjoyable musical experience rather than set strict performance goals. That being said, I also can tell when students aren't performing up to their ability and can be more demanding of students that require it. I try to cater my lessons to each individual student rather than adhere to a strict method, though with younger students it is more common to use method books and things of that nature. I also am comfortable teaching a wide range of jazz-related material, as well as all levels of theory, ear training, etc. I teach all levels of saxophone and beginning/intermediate levels of clarinet and flute.

I studied jazz in college, so that is my strongest area. I also have done most of my teaching with kids in the age range of 10-13, so I feel very comfortable teaching beginning and intermediate level students regardless of genre or style. I usually use method books for younger students, but also like to make up exercises to cater to the individual.

Berklee College of Music - music performance - 2001-2003
Garfield High School - - 1995-1999

Saxophone, Flute (Beg - Int), Clarinet (Beg - Int)