Saxophone with Edward S.

Hi, my name is Eddie Sundra, and I teach private clarinet and saxophone in the Ann Arbor area. I've been playing clarinet and saxophone for over 15 and 10 years, respectively, and I've been teaching professionally for the past five years. My musical interests generally include classical, jazz, and a slew of other musical genres ranging from ethnic to electronic. I have experience teaching students from beginning through collegiate levels, with a special emphasis on middle and high school students. As a doubler myself, I encourage clarinet students who are interested in jazz to learn saxophone, as it expands their versatility and expressive capabilities. As a performer, I have played in orchestras and chamber ensembles across the country and some in Europe. I am currently a member of the Lima Symphony in Ohio and Hartford Symphony in Connecticut, and I am a substitute member of many others. I have degrees in clarinet performance from the University of Michigan and Penn State, and my principal teachers include Chad Burrow, Dan Gilbert, and Dr. Anthony J. Costa. I have also completed additional studies with major symphony players such as Michael Rusinek, Joaquin Valdepenas, and Burt Hara. As a teacher, I've maintained small private studios in the Ann Arbor, MI and State College, PA areas. I've also taught saxophone and clarinet in Aspen, Colorado with the P.A.L.S. program, as part of the Aspen Music Festival. --Teaching Philosophy-- My goal as a teacher is to help cultivate an enriching and entertaining musical experience with the clarinet and/or saxophone. I hope to cater to the student’s goals as a performer (whether it be achieving perfect scores in solo competitions or simply learning to play a few easy jazz tunes), while offering a wealth of information along the way. Lessons will focus on fundamentals, musical literacy, aural skills, artistic creativity, improvisation, and composition. While I believe that structure in lessons is important for consistent development, I also believe that every student has different needs and interests, therefore each student receives individually-tailored lessons. The material I use is a culmination of both what I've used and personally developed, as well as materials my teachers have used and recommended in pedagogy classes I've taken. It is my hope that I can help students obtain their goals while enjoying the wonderfully creative experience of learning an instrument and expressing themselves through the wonderful world of music. For more information, check out my website a eddiesundra dot com.