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Since April 2020
Instructor since April 2020
Learn Music Lessons on Saxophone, Clarinet, or Flue
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From 60 $ /h
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Learn sax, clarinet, or flute. Ben uses an individualized practice plan for every lesson that caters to the students’ needs. Lessons cater to the student's needs. The curriculum includes the following array of skills: Instrumental technique, improvisation, composition, and repertoire building of both jazz and classical pieces. Many of Ben’s students have gone on to study at music schools. Some have even become professional musicians! Currently, all lessons are taught on "Zoom."
Location
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At student's location :
  • Around Brooklyn, NY, United States
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Online from United States
About Me
Ben is a multi-instrumentalist performing on clarinet, saxophone, and flute. He currently performs regularly with Postmodern Jukebox and The Hot Sardines. Additionally, he has appeared with Dave Matthews, Trey Anastasio, Aaron Neville, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Haley Reinhardt.

Ben is a passionate, enthusiastic educator. His curriculum includes the following array of skills: Instrumental technique, improvisation, composition, and repertoire building of both jazz and classical pieces. Ben uses an individualized practice plan for every lesson that caters to the students’ needs. Many of Ben’s students have gone on to study at music schools. Some have even become professional musicians!
Education
Hartt School of Music (1999-2003)
Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Central Connecticut State University (2005-2007)
Post-Graduate Studies in Music Education
Experience / Qualifications
*Professional musician and educator for twenty years
*Public school band teacher in Connecticut for ten years
*Private instructor for twenty years
*Musician, played with:
-Postmodern Jukebox
-Hot Sardines
-Dave Matthews
-The Owlz
-Ben & Friends
Age
Children (7-12 years old)
Teenagers (13-17 years old)
Adults (18-64 years old)
Seniors (65+ years old)
Student level
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Duration
45 minutes
60 minutes
The class is taught in
English
Availability of a typical week
(GMT -05:00)
New York
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Online via webcam
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At student's home
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
00-04
04-08
08-12
12-16
16-20
20-24
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Chris
Chris is a New York City-based multi-instrumentalist. A passionate composer and improviser, he has performed as a leader and sideman throughout New York, Boston, Colorado and abroad over the past 15 years. Chris attended the Manhattan School of Music (MM ‘25) and the New England Conservatory of Music (BM ‘23). He has taught privately and within public schools over the past eight years, and loves to help students cultivate their passion for music and instrumental performance. Students can choose to focus entirely on their instrument (saxophone, clarinet, and flute), or can specifically study improvisation, jazz composition, music theory, and ear training.

While primarily a jazz musician, Chris is trained in a wide variety of musics including classical, which he diligently studied on the clarinet; popular music and R&B; and world musics, including Brazilian (Choro/Bossa/Samba), Latin-American (Bomba/Timba/Rumba), and West-African styles (Agbekor/Gahu).

Some of Chris's many accomplishments include being recognized as a YoungArts Jazz Performance winner for four years in a row; performing abroad in Europe with the inaugural NYO Jazz Band, receiving a Community Performances and Partnerships Ensemble Fellowship at New England Conservatory, and also receiving the George Whitefield Chadwick Medal of musical and academic performance.

Chris emphasizes a teaching approach that prioritizes connecting with the student and engaging them in what they’re specifically interested in, while also covering the fundamentals essential to developing ones skills on their instrument or in their field of study. He offers lessons in person, primarily at students's personal residences, and also online via Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime (although in person is highly recommended).
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Nathan
As a teacher, I always try to focus on what the student is passionate about, while keeping in mind their weaknesses or aversions. When I was a student, the most profound growth I experienced was when I was fully engaged in the act of music making. I want to guide my students along a path to fall in love with music, whatever form that may come in. I know this will be much more valuable than any technique or song I could ever teach them. While I know this is the goal, I am also aware that this won’t happen with every student. Often this process happens further down the line. In those cases I just want them to get the most they can out of music, and enjoy the process of growing as a musician and a person.

It is very important to me to teach music to a diverse community of students. This is how I grew up learning music, and it truly is a way of bringing communities together. It has also been my privilege as a teacher to serve many underprivileged communities (as a part of Oakland Summer music, and Oakland Public Conservatory), as I believe everyone deserves access to quality music education.

In my private or group lessons, I like to first gauge the students’ listening habits and any music they are listening to. In my experience with younger students, many of them have yet to start listening to music on their own. I try to provide them a space to just listen to music. This way we can work on their technique through music they already enjoy. I will often have them learn songs by ear while also working on some fundamentals such as scales or tonging. We would also work on whatever weaknesses the student may have in their own public music programs or in their other music making. Often that is reading, ear training, or general lack of knowledge. I am always happy to work on these things in a patient but challenging manner. While improvement is the goal, I know first hand that failure is an important and essential part of the learning process.
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Contact Ben
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Similar classes
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Chris
Chris is a New York City-based multi-instrumentalist. A passionate composer and improviser, he has performed as a leader and sideman throughout New York, Boston, Colorado and abroad over the past 15 years. Chris attended the Manhattan School of Music (MM ‘25) and the New England Conservatory of Music (BM ‘23). He has taught privately and within public schools over the past eight years, and loves to help students cultivate their passion for music and instrumental performance. Students can choose to focus entirely on their instrument (saxophone, clarinet, and flute), or can specifically study improvisation, jazz composition, music theory, and ear training.

While primarily a jazz musician, Chris is trained in a wide variety of musics including classical, which he diligently studied on the clarinet; popular music and R&B; and world musics, including Brazilian (Choro/Bossa/Samba), Latin-American (Bomba/Timba/Rumba), and West-African styles (Agbekor/Gahu).

Some of Chris's many accomplishments include being recognized as a YoungArts Jazz Performance winner for four years in a row; performing abroad in Europe with the inaugural NYO Jazz Band, receiving a Community Performances and Partnerships Ensemble Fellowship at New England Conservatory, and also receiving the George Whitefield Chadwick Medal of musical and academic performance.

Chris emphasizes a teaching approach that prioritizes connecting with the student and engaging them in what they’re specifically interested in, while also covering the fundamentals essential to developing ones skills on their instrument or in their field of study. He offers lessons in person, primarily at students's personal residences, and also online via Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime (although in person is highly recommended).
verified badge
Nathan
As a teacher, I always try to focus on what the student is passionate about, while keeping in mind their weaknesses or aversions. When I was a student, the most profound growth I experienced was when I was fully engaged in the act of music making. I want to guide my students along a path to fall in love with music, whatever form that may come in. I know this will be much more valuable than any technique or song I could ever teach them. While I know this is the goal, I am also aware that this won’t happen with every student. Often this process happens further down the line. In those cases I just want them to get the most they can out of music, and enjoy the process of growing as a musician and a person.

It is very important to me to teach music to a diverse community of students. This is how I grew up learning music, and it truly is a way of bringing communities together. It has also been my privilege as a teacher to serve many underprivileged communities (as a part of Oakland Summer music, and Oakland Public Conservatory), as I believe everyone deserves access to quality music education.

In my private or group lessons, I like to first gauge the students’ listening habits and any music they are listening to. In my experience with younger students, many of them have yet to start listening to music on their own. I try to provide them a space to just listen to music. This way we can work on their technique through music they already enjoy. I will often have them learn songs by ear while also working on some fundamentals such as scales or tonging. We would also work on whatever weaknesses the student may have in their own public music programs or in their other music making. Often that is reading, ear training, or general lack of knowledge. I am always happy to work on these things in a patient but challenging manner. While improvement is the goal, I know first hand that failure is an important and essential part of the learning process.
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