Teaching Topics
Sound Production
BREATHING TECHNIQUE: the most important part of playing a wind instrument is, well… the WIND! Learn how to maximise and strengthen your lung capacity in order to achieve the most resonant sound at any dynamic volume.
EMBOUCHURE: How to form good, strong embouchure in all registers, and also how to adjust embouchure to achieve the sound you want for any musical context.
“VOICING”: Learning the relationship between what the larynx (voice box) does and sound production in terms of tone and pitch.
Technique
Through learning patterns, scales, etudes, and melodic figures, build your technique to be able to play anything you want to play, free of technical limitations.
Reading Music
Learn strategies for how to develop the ability to read music proficiently.
How to Improvise
Through guided listening, transcription, melodic variation, and chord/scale theory, develop a personalized vocabulary based on what inspires you and the history of the jazz language.
Songs and Repertoire
Learning songs is an important part of building a melodic vocabulary. Learn how to state the melody of a song in a meaningful way and use it as a starting point for melodic variation and improvisation.
Listening to the Greats!
Learn how to practice active listening, transcribe and play along with recordings that inspire you.
My Philosophy:
My primary goal for every lesson is that the student leaves feeling inspired to play and practice! I use a fun and focused approach to developing sound and instrumental technique with a student, thus freeing them to play whatever music inspires them. I feel it’s important that all exercises be practiced musically, thus making the process fun and engaging. I encourage students to be masters of extremes (high/low, loud/soft, fast/slow), adding depth, versatility and effectiveness to their playing, and through which they can express their individuality.
As far as music and material goes, I’m well-versed in a wide variety of different styles and can act as a guide for you to become an accomplished player in whatever stylistic vein you enjoy most. Personally, I love of old songs and enjoy teaching students to state melodies expressively and meaningfully. Whether you have three hours a day to practice or only 20 minutes a few times a week we can adjust the practice schedule accordingly to get you making progress toward your goals, whatever they are.
Biography
Possessing a powerful tone on both clarinet and saxophone, Evan Arntzen is a dynamic jazz performer and educator going back many years. He started on clarinet at age 7 and was instructed by his Grandfather (a clarinetist and elementary school teacher), who instilled in him a love of music and learning. After completing a BMUS degree in Jazz Studies with a major in saxophone performance from Capilano University in his hometown of Vancouver, Canada, Evan moved to NYC in 2014, and has maintained a busy performance schedule, appearing regularly at some of New York’s finest jazz clubs such as Jazz at Lincoln Center and Birdland, as well as festivals and music venues around the world. He currently occupies the lead alto sax chair with Grammy award-winning Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks and is proud to be a part of that New York institution that has been running for more than 40 years. Evan is also a member of the Grammy-nominated Catherine Russell band and performs regularly with acclaimed trumpeter/singer, Bria Skonberg. He has performed professionally with such greats as Houston Person, Ken Peplowski, Jason Marsalis, Michael Bublé, Wycliffe Gordon, and Harry Allen.
Evan is fortunate to have studied with some great teachers on his chosen instruments and cultivated a passion for teaching from an early age. He studied saxophone with Stan Karp in Vancouver (a student of Bill Green, Buddy Collette, and Joe Henderson) and clarinet with Wojtek Komsta (a student of Kalmen Opperman). Evan has now been teaching private woodwind lessons for 10 years and has worked with dozens of high school and university-level jazz ensembles. He’s dedicated to imparting the love of making music to all his students.