For more than 30 years now I have been teaching the saxophone and leading student ensembles, and in that time I have gained experience of a great many different teaching situations. The saxophone can be learned at any age: my youngest students are eight, my oldest over 65. While individual lessons are usually the right format for adults and teenagers, children can also learn the beginnings of saxophone playing very well in groups of three or four.
Alongside teaching playing technique, which goes without saying, my approach places particular emphasis on developing all-round musicianship. A beautiful tone, a good feel for rhythm and the dynamic shaping of a piece are the heart of saxophone playing. Working with improvisation plays an important part in this, taking up more or less room in the lessons depending on what each student wants.
One of the lovely things about the saxophone is the stylistic variety it makes possible. Jazz, classical music, pop music of all kinds: there are beautiful pieces for the saxophone in every one of these styles. The students’ personal preferences set the direction in choosing the teaching material.
Over the years I have written quite a number of compositions for teaching. Some of them have been published by AMA-Verlag: a two-volume saxophone method, a book of 11 duets and one of performance pieces in various jazz styles. You can find more information on the website of AMA-Verlag.
Harmonik in der Jazzimprovisation (Harmony in Jazz Improvisation) →
For further information, or to arrange a trial lesson, the best thing is to write to me here:
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At the Kunst- und Musikschule der Stadt Brühl (KuMs, Brühl’s municipal school of art and music), besides teaching the saxophone, I also lead the jazz combos “Blechlawine” and “Jazz Aliens”. The Jazz Aliens are a band for young people, while the Blechlawine is made up mainly of adults. In both bands the focus is on improvisation and on jazz and related music. Time and again, members of the bands also write their own compositions and arrangements with my support. Quite a number of young musicians have prepared in the Blechlawine for the entrance examination at a university of music. The bands perform regularly and are an established part of Brühl’s cultural life.
