Litchfield, CT Classical Piano Lessons

ist Jazz Festival, directing Jazz Ensembles I-II, Jazz Combo, Jazz Improvisation lessons, Jazz Pedagogy, online Jazz Appreciation, private saxophone lessons, saxophone quartets, private oboe lessons, and group guitar class.

Spaeth completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance at the University of Kansas in 2014, and his Master of Music Pedagogy and Performance from Oklahoma State University in 2011. He graduated from Harrah High School in 2002, earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2008, and was a 5th-12th grade Head Band Director at Fairview Public schools. He is currently a member of the North American Saxophone Alliance, the Jazz Education Network, Music Teachers National Association, National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, and an Honorary Member of Tau Beta Sigma. He has held previous memberships with Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Delta Pi, and the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association.

While at KU, Spaeth was also a graduate teaching assistant for the saxophone studio and jazz studies program. His responsibilities included Assistant Director of the KU Jazz Festival, directing Jazz Ensembles II-III, directing Jazz Combo III-VI, directing Saxophone Quartets II-III, teaching private saxophone lessons, assisting in saxophone studio class, and teaching the music education woodwind methods course. His Lecture Recital Document, A Performer’s Analysis of Selected Jazz Works for Saxophone Quartet, featured an interview with Bob Mintzer. Spaeth was a member of KU Jazz Ensemble I, KU Saxophone Quartet I, and KU's Helianthus New Music Ensemble. As a member of KU's Jazz Ensemble 1, Spaeth has performed with Dave Douglas, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Alex Sipiagin, Steve Owen, Gary Foster, Steve Houghton, Clint Ashlock, David von Kampen, Peter Epstein, Jeff Miley, James Miley, Roger Shew, and Brian Hamada, Brandon Draper, Rich Wheeler, Beau Bledsoe, Jeff Harshbarger, and Matt Otto. In July 2014, Spaeth went on a European tour with KU Jazz Ensemble I featuring Steve Leisring and Deborah Brown. Together, they performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Vienne Jazz Festival in France, and performed in several cities in Germany. Recordings by this band resulted in KU winning the DownBeat Student Award (Graduate College Large Jazz Ensemble Division) in 2015.

While at OSU, Spaeth was a GTA for the saxophone studio and music theory programs. His responsibilities included Music Theory I-IV tutoring and grading, sight-singing grading, piano labs, classical and jazz saxophone lessons, saxophone quartet coaching, saxophone studio Webmaster, and saxophone studio class. Spaeth was a member of the OSU Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble 1. He had a regularly performing jazz trio and played in OSU's X2End saxophone quartet. The X2End quartet performed locally at the 2011 Navy Band Saxophone Symposium in Washington D.C., at the 2011 NASA Region IV Conference, and has won the state and division rounds of the 2010-2011 MTNA Chamber Music Competition. The X2End quartet went on to win the 3rd place prize at the national final round of the MTNA Chamber Music Competition. They also were the Division II Chamber Ensemble winners at the 2011 Hubbard Music Competition where they were awarded the 2nd place prize in the overall finals. Spaeth's final degree paper at OSU was a study of composer/performer collaboration. He traveled to Texas, Michigan, and Ohio to interview saxophonists and composers including David Dees, Peter Fischer, John Sampen, Marilyn Shrude, Joe Lulloff, and Charles Ruggiero. He has presented his lecture at the 2011 Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, the 2011 NASA Region IV Conference, and the 2012 OSU Single Reed Summit. As a member of OSU's Jazz Ensemble 1, he has performed with Bob Sheppard, Conrad Herwig, Wayne Bergeron, and Andy Martin.

While at SWOSU, Spaeth performed as a member of the marching band, wind ensemble, Jazz Ensemble A, saxophone quartet, and his own jazz combo named Five-Seven. As a member of SWOSU's Jazz Ensemble A, he has performed with Dan Haerle, Bob Bowman, Jack Mouse, Fred Forney, Janice Borla, Eddie Daniels, Pamela York, Lynn Seaton, Carl Allen, Dr. Michael Cox, Tom Williams, Dr. Robert Chambers, Dave Hanson, Drori Mondlak, Delores Williams, Byron Stripling, Frank Wess, Kenny Drew Jr., Dennis Mackrel, Bill Watrous, Rich Eames, Jennifer Leitham, and Randy Drake.

Spaeth's primary saxophone instructors have been Vince Gnojek, Dr. Jeffrey Loeffert, Dr. Ann Bradfield, Dr. Keith Talley, and William Rodney Hull. He has had additional instruction in lessons and masterclasses from Gary Foster, Dr. Joseph Murphy, Dr. Michael Cox, Bob Sheppard, Johnny Salinas, Dr. Kimberly Goddard Loeffert, Dr. Geoffrey Deibel, Dr. Jonathan Nichol, Dr. Griffin Campbell, Dr. James Laughlin, and Dr. David Dees. Spaeth's jazz directors have included Dan Gailey, Bob McCurdy, Dr. Jonathan Martin, Dr. Keith Talley, and Dr. Terry Segress.

​Spaeth enjoys recording several instruments in his home studio and composing new music. His compositions that have been performed include his big band arrangement of Cat Battles by Joshua Redman, September in the Refrain (alto saxophone and electronics), Funk-o-matic (jazz combo), Smooth (jazz combo), and The Deadline Arrives at Dawn (alto saxophone and electronics). As an advocate of new music involving the saxophone, he has participated in a commissioning consortium for Alone Together by composer David MacDonald through Kick Starter. In 2013, Spaeth performed the premier of Cuento #3 by Nelson Ramirez Diaz. During summer of 2014, he recorded selections from Dr. John Walker's "The Alto Saxophone in the Attic," published by Carl Fischer. At the 10th Annual SDSU/Brookings Optimist Jazz Festival in 2015, Spaeth directed SDSU Jazz Ensemble I's premier of Dog, Tired by David von Kampen.

​Dr. Spaeth is a Conn-Selmer Endorsing Artist. He hosted the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 3 (ND, SD, NE, MN, IA) Conference at South Dakota State University on March 17-18, 2017. On Saturday, April 8, 2017, Spaeth performed Dreams in the Dusk by David Biedenbender with South Dakota State University's Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Jacob Wallace. On Monday, February 6, 2017, Spaeth performed the premiere of Lhotse for alto saxophone and percussion by Steve Danyew with Dr. Aaron Ragsdale. In April 2017, Spaeth performed solo tenor saxophone and orchestral clarinet in Ethan Bortnick's national PBS Special called "Generations of Music," which featured special guest, Peter Yarrow, from Peter, Paul and Mary.

to the art, discipline and joy of music making.
I went to Indiana University's Jacob School of Music and earned a Masters in Piano Performance, and Composition in the '90's. I sang all types of vocal music as well as prepared singers with vocal coaching and voice development techniques 20+ years.
I'm fun loving, patient, and optimistic-- these traits carry through in my teaching style,
One Size does NOT fit all--I approach the lesson plans for each student tailored to your learning style.
Over the past 23 years, my life experiences have encompassed other disciplines and compelled me to learn and acquire many other skills: my liberal arts as well as fine arts education lent itself to helping me work administrative jobs and even expanded into sales and public speaking. I have coached after school and SAT preparation to High School and College age students, helped with the preparation of legal and analytical documents, creative writing and editing assignments; and even tutored computer, social media and Microsoft Office & iWork Suite of applications to older adults.

I look forward to helping you reach your goals

ons. I will do my best to cater each lesson to the student's goals and interests, whether that is classical, rock, jazz, folk, country, pop or anything in between.

Lessons will vary significantly from student to student. Not only does every student have different goals in mind, they all learn differently as well. I do my best to customize my lessons for each student's goals and needs. A typical piano lesson may involve music-reading, chord studies, technical work, scale practice, theory, and of course learning songs!

I am a flexible teacher and am excited to teach students to truly understand music and enjoy playing the piano. Please reach out if you have any questions or interest in taking lessons.

aying live on stage with him during one of his concerts at Symphony Hall in Springfield Massachusetts. Due to the technique that I was taught, my teachings mirror exactly how I was shown how to play. The ability to read music is the first step in developing your technique, and finger stretching ability, and through my instruction you too can elevate your ability. Practice makes perfect, and perfect starts with me.
I hope to share what I have learned over the years with you.