George Shelby Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Jazz Studies, Improvisation, Composing, Arranging Woodland Hills, CA

George Shelby

was born and raised in Los Angeles. He went to California State University Northridge as a Music Major. He studied with many of the great players in Los Angeles, including Claude Lakey, Bill Greene, Ernie Watts, Jon Nagourney, and Charlemagne Payne.  

He has become a studio musician, Jazz recording artist, as well as an educator and clinician. He has performed on American Idol, (Star Academy in France). Good Morning America. With Barry Manilow, on the Academy Awards, Judging Amy, Late Night with David Letterman, the Ellen Show, Malcom in the Middle, the Enquirer TV show, Bill Curtis Reports, Maria Shriver presents, and a host of others.

He has performed live…

With Mariah Carey, Bobby Caldwell, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Hallyday, Johnny Mathis, Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Brian Culbertson, Keb' Mo, Boz Scaggs, Jim Brickman, Michael McDonald, Sheena Easton, Melissa Manchester, Larry Carlton, CeCe Winans, Fred Hammond, Daniel Ho, Frankie Avalon, Shirley Bassey, Cybill Sheppard, Ann Jillian, and Brian Setzer.

Cd’s and DVD’s he’s played on:

From Hilary Duff's "Metamorphosis" to Bette Midler's "Peggy Lee Tribute", Jacksoul, Lucy Pearl, Barry Manilow’s “Greatest Songs of the Fifties”, The West Side Story Tribute, Garden Party, three with Mike Sims, five with Russ Miller, four with Wah, three with Brian Setzer, Lifescapes, three of his own. Along with movies like Robots, Garfield, the Mask, Zoolah Patrol, the Frank Sinatra Story, Fortune Hunters, and many others.

As a Teacher of Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, and Jazz Studies,

George has travelled around the world conducting clinics and masterclasses. He brings his joy of music to every lesson, and with it patience, enthusiasm, and encouragement for anyone looking to improve their musical abilities. Tone production, technique development, jazz studies, getting work, all covered in a positive environment.

First off, if we're not having fun doing this, forget it. As much time and effort as I put into this, I always try to make it an enjoyable experience. We work hard, we improve a great deal, but we always try to enjoy the process.

We take a three sided approach to your improvement as a musician. First is your sound. It needs to be your sound, not mine, and not anybody else's. So we work on finding your voice on the instrument with many exercises tuned to getting results quickly. Second is your technique. Almost as important, there are many shortcuts we'll use to get the most improvement in the smallest amount of time. Third is jazz improvisation. Whether you're just starting out, or you've been playing a long time, we'll always work on our solo technique and how to improve it.

Finally, for advanced students. We work on gear selection, audition practice, getting work, getting a record deal, all the things you're looking for to take your playing to its next level. 

None of this is taught sequentially, it is all rolled into every lesson. As you're playing a jazz solo, we'll work on tone and technique. No two students are at the same place, so each student receives a unique lesson plan to fit where they're at, and where they want to get to.

Original methodology for each student.

     I teach out of my studio in Woodland Hills, at $60 per hour. I prefer to teach one hour lessons, as this usually gives us the best amount of time to review our last lesson, work on new material, and cover the incidental questions that always arise. When lessons are paid for a month in advance, I discount $20. I teach on Mondays and Wednesdays, both day and evenings.

     I also have an internship program. Students come to my recording sessions, live jobs, and see many other facets of what I do on a day to day basis. This is always limited to two students per half-year. 

James Monroe - Music - 76-79
CSUN - Music - 79-81

Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Jazz Studies, Improvisation, Composing, Arranging