Before I engaged Dan as a teacher, I knew of him as one of the preeminent voices on the tenor saxophone. I had seen him in performance several times and heard him on recordings. I reached out to him for lessons because I knew that he was a great player who could likely help me achieve my goal of becoming a musician able to improvise in the jazz idiom. What I did not know until my first encounter with him was how easy it would be to work with Dan. By that, I in no way mean to suggest that he is a pushover or that my lessons were not serious, rigorous or challenging. What I mean is that Dan is the rare instructor who has the ability to help you stay focused and positive while at the same time challenging you in a disciplined and nurturing way. With his guidance, I certainly became a better musician in every respect.

One of the most important things about my time with Dan is that fact that he used a pedagogical framework that clearly conveyed for me at the outset the work necessary for me to become an effective improvising musician. Dan is extremely knowledgeable about the inner workings and alternative underlying theories of jazz improvisation because he has played with and studied with many of the luminaries of jazz, and he knows how to structure and present this information. With his vast knowledge and desire to facilitate my musical growth, Dan kept me on task during our twice a month sessions and was always available in between sessions for any questions I might have had.

In short, I am very happy that I reached to Dan for lessons as he is a wonderful and enthusiastic teacher.

Dan is not only a great sax player, but also an amazing teacher. He is honest in his teaching style and observes each of students carefully. He listens deeply to them and catches what students are missing that will allow them to grow as a better musician and performer. Dan shows his students what they need to improve their technique and proficiency but also gives them the tools to develop an ear that is able to hear their own mistakes. This is one of the most important skills to have as a jazz musician. Personally, I really enjoyed studying with him and highly recommend a lesson with him whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or even a professional musician.

My jazz lessons with Dan were always very inspiring. He was able to hear what I was after and help me to identify and overcome the obstacles in my way. He encouraged me to pursue a more complete command of the instrument and to stay curious about many different approaches to improvisation. One of the things that stuck me the most was how open and generous he is, sharing wisdom from the many masters who he has worked and studied with. This really helped me to feel closer to the source of the music and was a great motivation to strive for my best.