Private lessons with top Saxophone instructors near New York, NY

I am a professional musician passionate about sharing the joy of music with others. I specialize in beginner to intermediate students of all ages. I teach students how to practice and why to practice in order to help them fall in love with the saxophone! Typical lessons involve scales, sight reading, and a piece that the student chooses. If you like having fun and learning about different kinds of music send me a message!

My goal as a teacher is to provide an in depth understanding of the instrument to my students. Whether we are learning technique specific to the instrument or general musical concepts, it is important to me that I take the time to insure that my students not only learn how to do something, but also the reasons why we are learning a specific concept or technique. At the end of the day, my ultimate goal is to teach you how to teach yourself, so that you may enjoy playing the instrument outside of our lessons together. I prefer not to conform to a specific teaching style, because every student is different, and I have been fortunate to have a great variety of types of students throughout my years as a teacher. Some of my students are children and adolescents who are looking to pursue music when they go to college or auditioning for state and regional band programs. Many of my students are very busy adults who are either looking to pick up an instrument for the first time as an escape from their everyday hectic lives, or they are coming back to an instrument that they put down years ago and looking to have a good musical experience again. I also have very young students who have parents looking to get there child into learning an instrument for the first time. For my child/adolescent future musician students, I will teach with a much more structured atmosphere and focus on all of the aspects of technique and music theory that they would be expected to know and play as they move closer to a professional level. For my busy adult students it is always a case by case basis. For those who have previous experience, I typically like to address teaching them how to play styles of music and tunes that they want to learn to play. For those who are new to music, I take them through a step-by-step process for learning the basics of the instrument while simultaneously teaching them how to read music. And in either case, many of my adults have busy professional lives where sometimes the only time they have to play their instrument is when they are in a lesson with me. That's ok. NO JUDGEMENTS! If the only time you have to play is during our lesson, then I'll find something new for you to learn at each lesson. For my young beginners it is all about having fun while playing music. While these lessons are also very structured, I also prefer not to be the stereotypical stern music teacher. I've heard way to many horror stories from my adult students who had mean and impatient teachers when they were children. I would say that my philosophy with my young students is an amalgamation of my approach with my busy adults students and my child/adolescent future musician students. I want to make sure that they are learning, but never discouraged.

I have developed a teaching method that is efficient and creative, and is backed by over thirty years of professional performing experience. In the past fifteen years, I have taught continuously at several music schools in Germany. In my classroom, I approach music lessons with uncompromising attention to the goals of my students, their abilities and style. While focused on rigorous study of instrumental technique and music theory,

If you want playing the saxophone to feel as natural as singing in the shower, then this is the course for you! I teach all levels of students from beginner to advanced, with a heavy focus on transcription and ear training. Everything in my curriculum is designed to make playing easy, natural and fun. Whether you want to play like Charlie Parker or learn all of the Beatles' greatest hits, we'll work together to help you make the music you've always wanted to.

Gordon L. began playing music at a very early age but didn't begin to learn the saxophone until he was in fifth grade. Gordon's interest in music grew when he began to work sound systems for bluegrass bands and eventually he started to experiment more with music. Soon after he would pick up guitar which would spark his interest in further pursuing his playing of music. After he bought a guitar, Gordon would practice relentlessly, sometimes for as long as 12 hours a day. This passion for music allowed Gordon to go to a summer rock band camp in San Diego where he learned everything you need to know about touring, playing in a band, making a music video etc. When Gordon reached his senior year of high school he attended Perpich Center of the Performing arts in Golden Valley, Minnesota. While he was learned he took classes in ear training and music theory. He also took a Taiko drum class while he was at Perpich. Along with learning new musical concepts, Gordon also learned how the music business works which got him more interested in marketing the bands he performed in. Gordon also was able to take guitar lessons at Macphail in Minneapolis under the apprenticeship of James Allen. Gordon went on to Mesabi Range Community College where he received his Associates Degree. While there he played saxophone in the Community Band and guitar in bands he started himself. Gordon also took a banjo class, piano class and a music history class at Mesabi Range Community College. His main focus in the past years has been working with bands doing studio work, mini tours and CD production/marketing for those groups. After Community College, Gordon went to Evangel University in Missouri where he continued to study Guitar and Saxophone while picking up more woodwind and string instruments. Gordon took private guitar lessons and attended a Guitar Master Class at this college. He also attended Missouri State University where he learned about theory and composition. He also played Saxophone in the jazz band. While he attended school in Missouri he relentlessly continued to play in multiple groups live and recorded a Ska/Reggae CD (guitar and saxophone tracks) with the band Bringers of the Dawn. Gordon can fluently play and teach Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Clarinet, and Saxophone. Gordon is also willing to teach harmonica and banjo to those interested in learning. Gordon also has knowledge of several other cultural instruments with a background in piano lessons from high school and college. He got superior and excellent ratings at musical competitions for voice and saxophone in high school where he performed songs such as the Hungarian Dance #5 and Beautiful Dreamer. Gordon loves all genres of music and enjoys learning every style he can in order to improve his musical instruction. For the moment Gordon is pursuing songwriting particularly in the field of cultural music. Focusing on the students immediate musical needs, Gordon is able to encourage students to set goals in order to efficiently practice, concentrate and focus during the lesson time. Gordon is very patient with every student so that they refrain from becoming frustrated, overwhelmed or intimidated. Realizing the importance of music, Gordon makes sure that every student leaves each lesson having learned something new.

I will teach you the fundamental basics as well as some tricks I learned from various artists I've played with. We will be using the Jamey Abersold books, Bob Mintzer books, and some of the tunes in the fake books. Also we will work on scales. I will also teach you how to write and compose your own music using my background music I send you.

I have been training on the saxophone for upwards of twelve years! I have been giving lessons since 2015, and I am qualified to teach beginner to advanced players. I've earned top chairs in my county, district, and state, and students of mine have gone on to do the same in their own ensembles! I have also played in select honors bands, such as the Great American Marching Band in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I am a skilled teacher, having served as a middle school teacher's assistant and summer camp music instructor. My prices are competitive because I simply want to share the joy of music with you or your student! What to expect when you take lessons with me: -Flexible scheduling -A judgement-free, creative environment! -A free PDF of the saxophone fundamentals workbook with which I teach, as a supplement to personalized lesson-planning. (CANCELLATION POLICY: I will do my best to reschedule lessons with students if I am notified at least 24 hours in advance. Otherwise, the missed lesson will be paid for in full.)

I have taught alto, tenor, soprano and baritone saxophones, theory and harmony for over 15 years, with a strong emphasis on technique, intonation and style. I teach beginner to advanced students in the styles of jazz, R&B and classical. I have taught at five music schools, as well as serving on the faculty at Cuyahoga Community College. I played first alto in the Case Western Reserve Symphonic Winds and Cleveland Institute of Music's Wind Ensemble as well as lead alto for CWRU Jazz Ensemble. I perform as a freelance saxophonist in straight-ahead, contemporary and modern jazz, R&B, funk, soul, Motown, blues, swing, pop, dance, disco, merengue, and salsa.