Princeton Junction, NJ Saxophone Lessons

I've also been on the staff of several Jamboree Scout bands.

*** Lesson Details ***
Every student is a different individual and learns in different ways. I try to make lessons as interesting and as useful to each student as I can, and include different things based on your interests and capabilities. Most students find duets are fun, so I include them often - both duets with the same instrument you are studying and duets with other instruments as well so you can learn the sound of such combinations. I encourage you to "play with your ears" as well as your fingers, to become a critical listener to your own performance and to decide whether you sound the way you want to sound.

I encourage students to try different things to become a more rounded musician. This might be something closely related - a flutist trying the piccolo or a clarinetist trying the bass clarinet. Or, it might be further afield - a flutist trying the guitar or a violinist learning movable Do and solfeggio singing. Every aspect of music is good to know.

*** Studio Equipment ***
My music studio is in a separate building - actually a renovated barn about two centuries old. The studio contains a piano and all the other instruments that I teach, and is roomy enough not only for private lessons but for musical groups up to about ten. I have many other resources there as well, including files of music, a small music library, and a computer that we can use for many purposes.

*** Travel Equipment ***
Students need their instruments, music, and stands.
I bring my own instrument.

*** Specialties ***
Classical,
Marching Band,
Ethnic (such as Jewish, Irish)

your family to achieve your music education goals!

et any books that we play through (but I'll give you time to get them, so don't worry.) Any books that we use will be easy to find and won't cost a whole lot of money.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will always bring my instrument with me when I attend a lesson, so I expect my students to do the same when they come to my studio. Also, make sure you have any books and music that we will be playing out of. I always have a copy of anything that we are playing, so I expect the student to have a copy as well.

*** Specialties ***
Trumpet
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Piano

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, treasurer of the 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, assisting with the KU Jazz Festival, 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.
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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 lives in Brookings, South Dakota. He 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.

​Dr. 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 will be performed the premiere of Lhotse for alto saxophone and percussion by Steve Danyew with Dr. Aaron Ragsdale.

tant to solidify the foundations of music, so that the student can grow into a knowledgeable, expressive musician. My lessons are taught with a personal and energetic approach leaving the student excited and eager to further explore music. I always make sure that the student is having fun!

Learning an instrument is all about personal growth as a musician. I will help my students become better musicians week by week as long as they are willing to practice and come prepared for the lesson.

*** Studio Equipment ***
I will provide a metronome, tuner, music stand and some music books/repertoire. Student may need to provide their own lesson books.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in classical techniques, improvisation, composition and songwriting.

Cancellation Policy:
Out of common courtesy, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel and/or reschedule a lesson, and you will not be charged. NOTE: You will be charged for the lesson if you cancel less than 24 hours before the scheduled lesson. No notification of cancellation will result in being charged for the lesson as well.

nce teaching trumpet, guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and saxophone. We will play whichever style of music you prefer. Lessons will be fun!

fter getting into to teaching a while back, I realized that I really enjoy it! It is highly rewarding, and a great chance to share the joy of music with others. I currently teach at three different locations for two different businesses in NJ, and I've set up my profile on Take Lessons so that I can continue expanding my student base, which consists of students ranging from 8-70 years of age.

I am always studying music, even to this day, and constantly trying to understand new styles that are outside of my wheelhouse. My approach to teaching is simple: connect with the student, help find common ground in musical tastes and set up an engaging foundation with which the student can reach their goals while having fun in the process!