Westlake Village, CA Saxophone Lessons

Saxophone was the first instrument, aside from Piano, that I started to play. I started in 4th grade with this instrument until my middle school teacher in 6th grade asked me to switch to French horn. I continued to perform on Saxophone in our school's Jazz ensemble in Middle School and High School. I no longer play the Saxophone but can still teach students how to play the instrument!

I am experienced in most styles: Jazz, Pop, Classical, Latin, R&B, Funk, Rock etc…
After discussing your goals, we will figure out the best way to accomplish those goals!

I am a really easy-going person and I want you to have FUN and discover new stuff every time you play your instrument.

After we figure out what you want to play and what areas we want to work on, I will make a special curriculum for you! Each student has a different curriculum that is specific to his or her level and learning style. I give a weekly curriculum after every lesson so you don’t need to worry about forgetting what we worked on at our lesson and you can work on it at home. Looking at past curriculum also provides an excellent way to look at a student’s progress.

One of the most important aspects of playing a woodwind instrument is achieving a good tone. I will help you get a good tone by teaching the fundamentals: from how to hold your instrument, how to blow, etc…

Other topics that we ...

Having taught music in schools for the past forty years, I have taught many, many students how to play saxophone. Many have gone on to play in college and beyond!

We will learn proper embouchure, hand placement, improvisation, reading or whatever you want to learn to get you excited about Saxophone

I have been teaching over sixteen years.

I tailor each individual lesson to that persons goals, needs, wants, and styles.

My goal is to learn music the fun way. Along the way we'll learn theory, chords, scales, ear training, composition, reading music, tempo etc

With 11 years experience, classical and jazz background, I can have your child ahead of the class or you ready to play in any setting with any material, written or improvised.
Already play? As musicians there’s always something we can learn from each other!

10+ years of saxophone experience in NYC and LA!

Learning an instrument, like learning a language, should be an interactive experience with a continuous flow of feedback. It should also be fun, with the opportunity to use each new skill in real life and on a daily basis.

Over the past 12 years, I have had the opportunity to study the saxophone (as well piano, composition, arranging, film scoring, and songwriting) with some of the most creative and talented teachers from Los Angeles, New York, and Portland, OR, including world-renowned saxophonists Bob Mintzer (of the Yellowjackets) and Bob Sheppard. Through my years of studying and teaching beginning and intermediate saxophonists, I believe it is the teacher's job to "teach the student how to teach themselves" by giving them the tools and critical feedback needed to excel not only in learning a new instrument, but in all aspects of music and life.

I have been teaching saxophone professionally for 7 years to beginners just starting out, students preparing for college auditions, and adults trying to get back into playing. I am a very passionate musician and person, and find happiness in helping people get better at the saxophone and playing music! I enjoy performing regularly in the Los Angeles and greater Los Angeles areas at venues such as The Hollywood Bowl, and The Blue Whale Jazz Club. If you are looking to make your first sounds on the instrument, or looking to develop the skills to be a masterful performer and improviser, please reach out to me as I would find great joy in helping you accomplish your goals.

A fun, fresh, unique approach to saxophone with an emphasis on discovery rather than study, from a university student who tours regularly and has appeared with names like Ellis and Branford Marsalis, and Rosario Giuliani with the Whitworth University Jazz Ensemble.

It is my primary objective to figure out how each of my students learns best. Then I customize their lessons so they get the most out of each session.

My students are always challenged, and I make it a priority to find interesting and fun material to work on.

Learning an instrument should be enjoyable, and there are many times the instrument can seem “too hard”. It is in these rare instances that I have been able to save my students from throwing in the towel. I find another way to teach the material that they will enjoy