Summertime Music Are you or your musical child looking for a fun ensemble playing experience this summer? If so, I’ve got just the thing: SERI. Small Ensemble Reading Intensive. SERI is my weeklong summertime workshop for clarinet and saxophone players.…
This summer, the first Small Ensemble Reading Intensive, otherwise known as SERI, comes to my studio. In my weeklong class, you’ll read, play, and perform music arranged for small ensembles. You’ll be collaborating with fellow musicians. When is the music collaboration class?…
This past Tuesday evening, my students and I shared the music they’ve been working on for the last couple of months to an enthusiastic audience at The Courtyard at Mt Tabor in Portland. The recital theme Hand Over Heart came to…
The Rose City Gay Freedom Bands held their first Young Artist Solo Competition for 10th through 12th grade music students in the tri-county area and SW Washington. One of my students, Ally Shuell, entered the competition playing Diversion for Alto Saxophone…
My Favorite Things recital video is now up on my YouTube channel as well as posted here on the recital page. We always have fun playing for the residents of The Courtyard at Mt Tabor and this time was no…
Music is my language. Often, I’m at a loss for words to express myself. But I can always find music that does the trick. I’ve written music since my days in University and continue to this day. I write short…
I was nine, almost ten years old when I took up learning the saxophone. A college student taught group lessons in a cramped practice room at the local music store in my metro Philly town. How we learn in group…
The North American Saxophone Alliance, aka NASA, is coming to town next weekend. On March 10 and 11, NASA’s Region One Conference will be held at Portland State University in downtown Portland. This saxophone conference features two days of masterclasses,…
My students put so much energy and practice into their recital performances. I like to honor their efforts by recording the show and uploading the individual videos to my YouTube channel () Our most recent recital was November 1, 2016. Oops!…
Tonight, students will perform the songs they have transcribed over the Summer. They chose the songs they wanted to learn, so you’ll hear pieces like: The Pink Panther by Henry Mancini on clarinet complete with an improvised solo! Hedwig’s Theme…
My friend and fellow clarinetist, Craig Bunch, sent me a link to an inspiring jazz concert – The Legacy of the Benny Goodman Quartet, Jazz Night In America on NPR. The concert was narrated by author and activist, Wendell Pierce…
This year for the Spring recital, my students chose folk music that was significant for them culturally or otherwise. They transposed the music for their instrument and in many cases also wrote arrangements for two, three and four instruments. I’ve compiled…