Marcus Hook, PA Saxophone Lessons

a Band in 1987. Orchestra Member Upper Darby Summer Stage 1987-1993. Played in Upper Darby Jazz Festival in 1989. Won Soloist award. Played with Settlement Music School Jazz ensemble 1987 to 1989. Played at the Roam and Hass Jazz festival at Settlement Music School in 1988. Founding member of flute ensemble Flutes in a Chord. Studied with Christine Dalsey . Studied Jazz with Lovett Hines. Attended Masterclasses with Nestor Torres and David Cramer. Specialist in early childhood education, pre-school music and Ethnomusicology with a focus on Asian Music. Member of the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Flute Choir.
Flute, Jazz Flute, Flute Choir B.A. in Music, Temple University.

*** Lesson Details ***
I am a teacher that can be very strict but I can also go with the flow. I base my curriculum on Orff and Kodaly for my younger students. For my older students, I work with the student's abilities and see which curriculum works for them.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Indoor studio space: drum kit, hand percussion, 88 - key fully weighted digital piano, flutes, clarinets, computers, recording gear, alto sax, recorders, piccolos

*** Specialties ***
Classical and jazz

ter performing group and spends most of its time performing in and around the Pacific Northwest. When not leading his own group Kareem can be seen and heard performing as a sideman with many other top notch musical acts and projects, most notably The Paperboys from Vancouver BC.

As an educator Kareem divides his time teaching jazz improvisation as an artist in residence at The Tacoma School of the Arts, directing the award winning student jazz ensemble at Pierce College, conducting masterclasses and workshops at schools around the Puget Sound area, and maintaining a full load of private students. Along with his teaching duties Kareem is the director or The Tacoma Jazz Association, serves on the Tacoma Arts Commission, and is a D'Addario Woodwinds performing artist.

Kareem holds a Bachelors Degree of Music from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle Washington which he attended after receiving a full scholarship.

Throughout his years of teaching Kareem has worked with students of all ages and abilities, from beginners just getting started, to advanced players who simply want new ideas and direction.

*** Lesson Details ***
Lessons are relaxed and are focused on what you would like to learn.

I usually begin with assessing where students are in their abilities and then come up with a lesson plan based on what they already know and what they would like to accomplish.
They can be geared towards a 5 year old with no musical training whatsoever, or to an advanced musician who wants to further develop their skills.

Topics that I cover in lessons throughout a typical day of teaching include: Instrument technique, sight reading skills ( note and rhythm recognition ), memorization skills, music theory, ear training, improvising, and composing.

After 3 to 6 months of lessons and regular practice a beginning student should have a good command of their instrument and a strong foundation of sight reading. At this point we normally will also have started some music theory as well. For students wanting to focus on jazz we will have already begun improvising as well.

*** Studio Equipment ***
5x10 room w/ piano and seating for parents

*** Specialties ***
I focus on the basics of learning to read music and basic technique on the instruments that I teach. From there I proceed with theory, ear training, improvising, composition etc. It all depends on what the students want to learn. I am comfortable teaching classical music as well as jazz, rock, composition, and improvisation.

and New Jersey and has taught at the secondary level in both states. In addition to both instrumental and choral ensembles at Penn State, Thomas was a student leader in the Penn State Blue Band and a member of the brass section of the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps in 1993 and 1994. He served as an Associate Director of the Warren Junior Military Band of Youngstown, Ohio from 1995 to 2005. He also served as a visual staff member for the renowned North Penn Marching Knights of Lansdale, PA for one season in 2004.

He is a current adjudicator with Drum Corps International and Cavalcade of Bands. He is a member of MENC, PMEA, NJMEA, ASCAP, CASA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the National Band Association. He appeared in the Marquis Who's Who Among American Educators in 2004 and 2005, an honor rarely bestowed upon teachers, as students who appear in the Who's Who Among American High School Students must nominate them. He currently is a music teacher at the Center for Performing and Fine Arts of the PA Leadership Charter School in West Chester, PA and resides in Downingtown, PA with his wife and two sons.

Thomas will happily work with students on the autism spectrum or students with ADD.

*** Lesson Details ***
My lessons are tailored to the needs and interests of each student. If a student is involved in school music ensembles, we will work with their lesson books from school in addition to material outside of the books, including SmartMusic, Noteflight, and teacher-created materials. We will focus on building proper tone production and individual technique - something that often is difficult to learn in a large ensemble setting.

I am capable of starting a beginner student on any band instrument including percussion, any classical string instrument (violin, viola, cello, string bass), and piano. I can begin a student on drum set and work with them through their first method book, but I would then recommend they find a specialized drum set teacher after a period of six to twelve months.

For advanced students, I work from selected conservatory etude books on developing advanced skills and can work with students on audition pieces for honors bands/orchestras or college auditions.

My lessons are a half-hour once a week, with the option of working for 45 minutes or 60 minutes.

*** Specialties ***
music, band, orchestra, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, violin, viola, cello, string bass, piano, Percussion
classical, jazz improvisation

ults. 2) My more expansive lessons are for beginner musicians and up. We work as basically as scales, modes, and fingerings, as well as a little bit of jazz history. As you progress, we dig deeper into jazz theory, focusing on the standards and improvisational theory. Like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it, and as long as you are willing to work towards becoming a better player, you will. 3) For NON-SAXOPHONE students with an interest in jazz improvisational techniques, I offer jazz improvisation lessons. This requires an intermediate level of proficiency on your instrument. We cover standards, different techniques to apply over different patterns of chord changes, and even basic elements of composition.

I like to keep the atmosphere light and positive during lessons, so we can have a good time and still be learning. I love to work on appropriate music that the student suggests, or has an interest in. Pending the level of the student, we may even arrange for special appearances at some of my performances.

*** Studio Equipment ***
1942 Conn 6M viii Naked Lady Alto Saxophone
Theo Wanne Durga 7 Mouthpiece
Vandoren Jumbo Java Mouthpiece
Vandoren Java Red / Vandoren ZZ Reeds
Monique Pro Series Soprano Saxophone
Otto Link Mouthpiece
CG Conn C Melody Saxophone
Akai EWI-USB Wind Synthesizer

*** Specialties ***
-Improvisation
-Jazz
-Rock
-Funk
-Soul
-Latin

Looking forward to making some music with you!

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.