 | I offer lessons in:- Irish Traditional Flute
- Classical Flute
- Jazz Flute
- Jazz Saxophone
- Irish Traditional Tin Whistle
- Voice - Maritime Songs
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Interested in taking lessons with Aaron?
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Aaron Clegg | Offering private lessons in
Saratoga, California |
Introduction
I teach saxophone (classical or jazz), flute (same), wooden flute (traditional Celtic style), tin whistle (same), or singing (Maritime songs, jazz, or general vocal coaching).
Whether you are a child or an adult, a beginner or an advanced player, I can help you immediately solidify your technique and start to feel the joy of the music flow through you, starting with the first lesson!
My Teaching and Performance Background
My father taught about 20-30 music lessons per week while I was growing up, and he shared a lot of his methods with me. I have been a science teacher in high school (2 years), college (3 semesters), and with 6th graders (2 years). I've performed jazz saxophone in big bands and jazz combos (small bands) all through college and Celtic traditional flute music and "a capella" sea chanties almost weekly for about ten years in pubs, as well as in concerts. I've jammed with such legends as Niall and Cillian Vallely, Paddy Keenan, Eamonn and Mick Coyne, Kevin Crawford (of Lunasa), Paul McGrattan, Peter Molloy, and others. (Venues include the Press Room and Molly Malone's in Portsmouth, NH; Barnstormers' Theatre in Tamworth, NH; First Night Wolfeboro, NH; the South Church in Portsmouth, NH; the Mariposa Museum in Peterborough, NH.) My recent work as an outdoor science field instructor had me singing and playing flute, saxophone, guitar, and bass two or three times a day. Since March of 2009 I have been performing with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. (Venues include the Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA; Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View, CA; NFL game with SF 49ers; Healdsburg Jazz Festival, Healdsburg, CA.)
My Teaching Philosophy
Have you ever noticed that some people seem to be born for music, almost like they put no effort into it, while others struggle for years?
This is really an illusion! I feel that this is due to two problems, both of which I can help solve. 1) Some people may have been told by teachers or parents that they don't have musical talent; since this is a belief, a mindset, it can be changed... especially if you have some positive experiences. 2) Learning music depends on the method of practice, and if you practice in the wrong way, you can do more harm than good - like lifting weights EVERY day instead of every other day. I have a special way of teaching students how to practice things.
My rules for practice are:
1) Music should be fun. If it stops being fun, set it aside and come back to it later. Frustration does not lead to success, in my experience.
2) The LEFT side of the brain is responsible for the SEQUENCE of notes (or chords), which can be studied analytically with the mind, broken down and understood piece by piece.
3) The RIGHT side of the brain is responsible for RHYTHM, and as such rhythm is best learned in a holistic, auditory way. You can learn the rhythm by hearing a recording or using your sheet music to break it down analytically and then CLAPPING it or HUMMING it to get it into your auditory memory.
4) When learning a particularly tough new piece of music, start with the note sequence and no rhythm (left brain), and get that into muscle memory. Then isolate the rhythm by humming the music, and get that rhythm deep into your soul. Finally play the notes in rhythm at a very slow pace. This programs the muscle memory. Gradually increase the tempo until you can play it at performance tempo. (This process will span minutes, days, or even weeks, depending on the piece.)
5) If you have to work on a tricky spot in the music, do the same as in step 4 but focus on just the measures of music that need work. Gradually lengthen the stretch that you're working on, so that you start to learn the tricky spot in the context of the rest of the piece.
6) If, at any point, it stops being fun, set it aside and come back to it later. (I know I already said this, but it warrants a second mention.)
Note: You can be an excellent technical musician and still need help finding the soul of a piece of music. For example, a lullaby sung with a brilliant and loud soprano opera voice will probably not do what you want it to (unless your goal is to surprise people with stylistic crossover). I can help you to find what the piece wants to say, and what YOU want to say with that piece, so you are playing MUSIC and not just showcasing technique.
Rates And Availability
Special Recession Pricing!!! $40 per hour or $25 per half hour lesson!!!
My usual fee is $50 per hour lesson or $30 per half hour, plus negotiable (reasonable) travel time if I come to your home (waived if close enough). Ask me about limited "scholarship" rates if the fee is a limiting factor. Music is an experience that everyone should have access to. |
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