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Music Theory

Dr. Carl S. maintains an online and in-person music studio through TakeLessons, where he teaches several instruments privately and in group settings including saxophone, guitar, oboe, music theory, flute, clarinet, and piano. Carl taught Saxophone and Jazz Studies at the University of Tulsa as an adjunct faculty member from 2018-2019. During Spring 2019, Carl is teaching Music Theory and Saxophone at Oklahoma State University.

Carl taught at Oklahoma State University as a Lecturer of Saxophone and Music Theory during Dr. Jeffrey Loeffert's sabbatical in Fall 2017. His duties included graduate saxophone lessons, graduate music theory review, graduate saxophone pedagogy, and saxophone studio class.

Prior to working at OSU, Carl was Instructor of Jazz and Saxophone at South Dakota State University from 2014-2017. His responsibilities included directing the annual SDSU/Brookings Optimist 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.

Carl 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, Carl 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.  Carl 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, Carl 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, Carl 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, Carl 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.  Carl 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.  Carl'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, Carl 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.

Carl'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.  Carl's jazz directors have included Dan Gailey, Bob McCurdy, Dr. Jonathan Martin, Dr. Keith Talley, and Dr. Terry Segress.

Carl 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, Carl 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, Carl directed SDSU Jazz Ensemble I's premier of Dog, Tired by David von Kampen.

Carl 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, Carl 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, Carl performed the premiere of Lhotse for alto saxophone and percussion by Steve Danyew with Dr. Aaron Ragsdale. In April 2017, Carl 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.

Sight reading will no longer be a chore with the help of these weekly classes! Perfect for beginners, your instructor will teach you effective practice methods to help you understand music theory so you’ll get the most out of every rehearsal. Get ready to learn how to comprehend more notes in less time!

In this class, you'll learn the basic techniques for reading sheet music to help you improve your overall musicianship. You will learn the most effective practice methods to sightread better so you'll get more out of every rehearsal and practice session. You'll learn how to speed up your eyes, read ahead and comprehend more notes in less time, and how to sing or play the notes with more confidence.

Basic Music Theory for Beginners

Carl is a fantastic instructor. My lessons have evolved from bass to songwriting. I'm having so much fun and am learning more than I imagined. I can't recommend him enough!

The Best. I truly couldn't have asked for a more confident, more affordable, and more experienced teacher. If there's someone you're looking for with help to get started, or simply improve your saxophone skills, he's your man.

Dr.Carl is a great music teacher. He has help me with reading music and learning my instrument correctly.

I have had the pleasure of working with Carl over the past few months, and he has proven to be a capable and patient teacher. He gives thoughtful musical feedback. I recommend him with no hesitations.

Carl is a great teacher

I have been taking lessons from Carl for three months and he helps me understand and improve my playing immensely. Beginning with fingering, breath, equipment up to theory. Carl is very positive, encouraging and friendly. Even though I am a beginner I never feel like he is bored teaching me. I know he can teach very high level players too. I highly recommend Carl.,

Basic Music Theory for Beginners - Music Theory Class

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