Wellington
Saxophone Lessons | Clarinet Lessons, Flute Lessons | Artist development, Aural Lessons, Ensemble Coaching, Theory Lessons, Composition Lessons, Jazz Improvisation Lessons, Online Lessons
Bio
I grew up in rural Mohua/Golden Bay, and have been playing saxophone and improvising since I was 10 years old. I studied formally at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington for 4 ½ years, and returned to study in 2020 to work on the practice of improvisation, completing a Master of Music degree at the University of Auckland. I’ve taught all ages and abilities privately for the past 15 years, and since 2020 I have directed and tutored the jazz band at the Rātā Studios school of performing arts.
My work as a musician and composer has led to performance and education opportunities in the USA, Canada, South Korea, Germany, and Australia, and has been recognised by the Aotearoa Music Awards, APRA/AMCOS NZ and Creative New Zealand.
Teaching Info
My teaching is not method based: I help the student to create the music they want to hear. However, regardless of the direction, I always focus on creating a good sound, and REALLY hearing what you play/write – whether it’s on the page or not!
Therefore lessons usually have elements of technical training, and elements of ear training. For instrumentalists, this means working on producing a good sound, playing together and along with recordings. For theory and composition, I prefer to work at the piano, where we can both clearly see as well as hear the material.
This can mean plenty of talking, concepts and ideas; however if lessons are your only opportunity for play, then we can simply play. If you want to unlock your potential to appreciate and create music and find lifelong pathways towards learning, then get in touch!
Jake is a passionate and highly knowledgeable teacher with an impressive breadth of skills. When I began postgraduate jazz studies following a classical degree, I felt there were significant gaps in my understanding. I reached out to Jake for additional lessons in theory, ear training and composition and I’m so glad I did. He explains complex concepts in clear, accessible ways, always creating an encouraging and inspiring learning environment. Jake is also a fantastic saxophonist, and I highly recommend lessons with him to anyone looking to deepen their musical knowledge or performance skills.
