Matthew S. TakeLessons Instructor music, piano, saxophone, flute, music history, composition, music theory, improvisation San Diego, CA

Matthew teaches saxophone, flute, improvisation, composition, arranging, and theory. He is an experienced teacher, having taught private lessons, small classes, and ensembles. He is interested in and has experience with a wide variety of music ranging from jazz, classical, rock, and blues, to electro-acoustic and avant-garde. Recently relocating to the San Diego area, Matt looks forward to working in his new west coast environs.

Matthew has extensive experience teaching young and beginning students. With the knowledge to take a student as far as they want to go, each student receives lessons tailored to their wants and needs.

Matthew graduated in May of 2006 with his Master of Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with emphases in music composition and jazz/studio performance. He received his Bachelors of Music in saxophone performance from Kansas State University in 2004. Playing saxophone since the age of 10, he later took up flute and clarinet in high school. His compositional education began while studying abroad at Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland.

While living in Kansas City, his compositions were regularly performed throughout the Midwest by student ensembles and at professional conferences. He often performed saxophone with his jazz combo and other live music groups at public and private events. Matt produced an album of original music and shares arranging credit. He gave private lessons at The Academy of the Arts in Shawnee, KS and held an adjunct professor position at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Matthew has studied classical and jazz saxophone with Bobby Watson, Tim Timmons, Alfred Cochran, Craig Treinen, Hal Melia, and Harold Steinhardt. He studied jazz theory and pedagogy with Wayne Goins, and jazz arranging with Paul McKee. His composition teachers include Paul Rudy, Reynold Simpson, Mara Gibson, Narong Prangcharoen, Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Stephen Davismoon, and Kenneth Dempster.

Matthew's membership to professional organizations include the North American Saxophone Alliance and the Society of Composers, Inc.

Classical, Jazz, Improvisation

music, piano, saxophone, flute, music history, composition, music theory, improvisation