Piano with Tim O.

Sharing my musical knowledge, ideas, passion, and experience is a core part of who I am and what I do. I am quite proud of my students' many accomplishments. For each student I tailor a unique, fun, creative, and complete learning plan based upon their interests and goals for all levels of development. Since 1992 I have been teaching music lessons, working with ensembles, and teaching a wide variety of music courses at Universities, Colleges and Conservatories. I hold a Doctorate in Saxophone Performance from the University of Iowa and a Masters degree in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory of Music. Currently, I teach in the music departments of the University of Southern Maine and Bowdoin College. Additionally, and just as rewarding for me, I maintain a vibrant saxophone, composition/theory, piano (classical and jazz), and flute studio out of my home studio in Brunswick, Maine. I creatively strive to help each student realize their goals and musical potential. I am honored that students travel regularly to Brunswick from as far away as New Hampshire, Scarborough, Bethel, Waterville, Cape Elizabeth and Blue Hill to study with me. Busy as a composer, bandleader and saxophonist, I have played in New York, Miami, Boston, greater New England, Chicago, throughout the Midwest and on NPR's JazzSet hosted by Branford Marsalis. I love playing a wide variety of styles and have worked professionally in many genres including symphony orchestras, Cuban bands, funk bands, classical chamber ensembles, pop/rock groups, diverse jazz ensembles and as a concert soloist. In addition to the album projects that I have led, I have been featured on nationally acclaimed projects led by Richard Nelson, Elijah Levi and Tatsu Aoki; and I have appeared on numerous studio recordings. In addition to the great musicians I have already mentioned, I have had the pleasure of performing with renowned musicians such as the Temptations, Gunther Schuller, Danilo Perez, George Russell, Wycliffe Gordon, Louis Bellson, Fred Anderson, and Tim Hagans. Currently, I am working on new music for my latest project - PURSUIT. A New York City-centered 14 member ensemble, PURSUIT is dedicated to performing and recording my, and co-leader Richard Nelson's, pan-stylistic compositions while featuring this unique ensemble's prodigious improvisational and creative gifts. You can find my albums on i-tunes, Amazon and Spotify. Here are some album reviews: "A young, new master of the saxophone has arrived, and his name is Tim  . . . Before My Life is what contemporary jazz is all about and is a showcase of perfect performances." Lee Prosser -- Jazz Review "This is the sound of . . . expanding American art." James Nichols -- All About Jazz "Pleasing set . . . The saxophonist is great . . . no wasted notes . . . Compelling music . . . This is fine, satisfying stuff." Jason Bivins -- Cadence "Agile minds . . .Tim is an open, lyrical player who can unfurl a wide range of ideas at a dizzying pace . . . appealing atmosphere . . . flows beautifully . . . Tim designs hypnotic concepts that capture the imagination . . . indelible spirit." Jerry D'Souza -- All About Jazz "This recording confirms the hopes we had placed on him . . . Probing excursions . . . On soprano, He skillfully avoids the saccharine tone that mars too many saxophonists . . . fiery dialogues . . . contemplative and lyrical communions . . . seamless and breezy . . . solid outing." Alain Drouot -- Chicago Jazz Institute "Lovely chamber jazz . . . They swing, experiment, solo comfortably, swing some more and interpret with creative passion . . . Tim soars lyrically with alto and soprano melodic sketches. Carrying a blues foundation and providing plenty of room for spontaneity, the program connects intuitively with the audience . . . exotic flavors . . . They create impressions that let their audience travel through time and space." Jim Santella -- All About Jazz "Quality of music is excellent . . . "Rise and Fall" is a beautiful ballad that displays both Tim's wonderful tone on soprano sax and Aoki's big, fat bass notes . . . unhurried duo musical communication . . . good soloing by the horns and swinging bass lines . . . "Old Growth" is stunningly beautiful." Francis Lo Kee -- All About Jazz New York "Unusual and well crafted . . . memorable . . . Tim and Aoki in top-notch form . . . creative sounds . . . remarkable . . . smooth, mellow approach which is enjoyable. . . "Ancient Pines Suite" is intense in scope and presentation, and there is much good to say about it, and its thematic structure. [Ancient Pines Suite] is a strong entry for anywhere and anytime . . . Wide base of appeal . . . a fine example of what can be creatively expressed . . . wide range and a wide scope, and it entertains . . . straight-ahead stylings add to its brilliance. Highly recommended jazz fusion!" Lee Prosser -- Jazz Review.com "Tim has a rich timbre and consistent vision . . . compelling terrain." Marc Masters --Jazz Times "Fans of Maria Schneider's big band work will enjoy Tim's arrangements . . . reminiscent of Gil Evans, especially at times in the coloring . . . solid charts that clearly call on tradition . . . modern elements infused, like funky bass on "Adverse Side Effects," fusionesque electric guitar by Steve Grismore on "Cirrus" and "Retrospection" . . . The interesting works are well-played by this ensemble." -- Chicago Sound.com "Tim’s compositions are thickly scored and rich in extended harmonies with close chordal relationships, such as those heard in the work of Thad Jones . . . shifting kaleidoscopic, quasi-psychedelic rhythms . . . an amalgamation of thoughtfully serious compositions for the modern big band that many times play on concepts usually utilized in classical music: large formal structures, the development of rhythmic motives, large timbral palettes and advanced harmonic configurations." -- Jazz Review.com "Saxophonist Tim is passionate about large ensembles . . . unusual big band program includes free jazz, fusion and bebop . . . Tim pushes the envelope using the large ensemble to play multiple layers of jazz-fusion on "Epilogue Groove." The reflective vibe of "Retrospection" has an exotic character and the brass harmonies highlight "Mr. ID." Nice work!" Oscar Groomes -- O's Place, Jazz.com "Elton Dean. Tim Berne. Tim. Welcome to the exclusive club of outstanding sax players/composers/improvisers . . . a perfect album . . . This disc is a great blend of composition and improvisation and it swings! . . . Before My Life has a uniqueness of vision. Tim is the composer of Chicago." -- Beyond Coltrane " . . . A thinking man's player and composer . . ." Owen Cordle -- JazzTimes "This is a really fine recording, generous in terms of playing, with considered compositions and a ton of spirit." Jason Bivins -- Cadence " . . . Meditating on alto, Tim sounds like 'Trane did on Central Park West . . ." John Barrett -- Jazz USA " . . . A fine new voice on alto . . . loose and swinging and broadly expressive . . ." Stuart Broomer -- Cadence Thanks so much for your interest in lessons and I hope to meet you soon! *** Lesson Details *** I gladly teach the following to ALL ages: Saxophone - all abilities and styles Music Theory Improvisation - all instruments Beginning Piano - all styles Composition - all styles Beginning Flute