Interested in learning with Jonathan?
Contact us to schedule your first lesson!
Contact us to schedule your first lesson!
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Jonathan is a freelance saxophonist, flutist and clarinetist. He teaches all levels and styles of saxophone, as well as beginner and intermediate flute and clarinet. He is also a budding woodwind repair technician!
Jonathan graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music, receiving classical woodwind performance training under the tutelage of Professor Donald Sinta, Dr. Timothy McAllister, and Dr. Clifford Leaman primarily. Additionally, he has studied with and performed alongside many other acclaimed classical and jazz artist-teachers. As a gold-medalist winner of the prestigious Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in 2001, Jonathan has performed extensively across the USA and Canada. He has performed on saxophone, flute, and clarinet with the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, and is the first-call saxophonist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, both of South Carolina. |
Jonathan regularly performs with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Long Bay Symphony, Lowcountry Pianist & Company, and many musicians and music groups regionally. He recently played for stage productions with The Carolina Opry, Chamber Music Charleston, College of Charleston and Moranz Entertainment. Additionally, he is the artistic director of the HELLO, SAXOPHONE! concert series, through which he has produced performances of classical and jazz music with saxophone and collaborating instruments to audiences from Maryland to South Carolina since 2015. His HELLO, SAXOPHONE! programs have been chosen and featured on the Piccolo Spoleto Festival’s Spotlight Concert Series each season annually since 2016. Finally, Jonathan is the founder, executive director and lead instructor of Lowcountry Saxophone Camp, coastal South Carolina’s premier summer saxophone intensive, operating since 2013.
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Solo Saxophone
0:00 - St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins 1:45 - Double Violin Concert, 1st Movement in a jazz style - Bach 2:45 - Arrival of Queen of Sheba in a jazz style - Handel |
Jonathan and Holly
0:00 - When the Saints Go Marching In 1:15 - Unforgettable - Nat King Cole 2:20 - Canon in D - Pachelbel 3:10 - Just a Closer Walk with Thee - Traditional Hymn 3:52 - Ave Maria - Schubert 4:32 - What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong |
Jonathan's Teaching Style:
"I play professionally across multiple genres of classical, jazz, blues, rock and pop music, which greatly informs my teaching. 'Teacher / mentor / coach' is a deep and important part of who I am. Over my decades of teaching, I have taken great pleasure in helping students of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals, to make real progress in all aspects of their instrumental and musical development. I value my mentoring / coaching relationship with my students, and clear communication with my student’s parents / guardians and family. I look forward to helping you or your child on a musical journey!
I teach every student in unique ways based on my fluid and evolving understanding of their learning needs, styles, pace, potential, and their own preferences! My students get the instructional delivery and style they need in the moment to build skills, captivate their interest, and sharpen their attention and focus. I teach my students the skills they need and the styles they want to play (as appropriate to their level) coaching my students in how to construct rich musical lives.
I have had the opportunity to coach some incredibly talented students, using a teaching style that focuses on embracing a quest for their best, and places a high value on growing and learning at near their maximum growth rate, to help them make fast progress toward their high potential. I also have wonderful students of all levels of learning and talent who need or desire a softer, less urgent learning process, one that is more experiential. Either way, my teaching styles and experience allow the student, parents / guardians, and myself to discover and set an organic and enjoyable pace of musical learning for each individual student.
Consistent practice sessions are the expectation for my students, and a necessity for success at any level! The more my students practice, perform, and play in public, the richer their musical lives are! I coach my students to be aware and organized, so they understand and can explain to others what their focus areas are now, and what the next steps in their journey of musical learning will be. My students learn the distinction between practicing and playing music: what each is, how they're related and flow into one another, and why we musicians and music learners do what we do!
My teaching styles are flexible not for those reasons alone. Additionally, I always have an eye toward igniting the 'fires of musical interest, passion and learning' in my students, and keeping them lit! Cultivating those 'fires' of motivation is tricky, and very individuated. Yet, because I always assess and adjust my instruction to be balanced, I have a strong track record of keeping motivation and interest high, which helps my students to stick with musical learning and enjoyment.
Helping my students surround themselves with music is a key to their growth as musicians. I help cultivate my students' musical tastes through listening recommendations or assignments, and often send them information on local live performances they might enjoy attending.
In addition to learning about music, my students learn more about how they learn best, how to set and meet goals, organize their work for success and act with integrity, focus, and enjoyment. I take great pride and joy in seeing my students grow, using what they've learned in our lessons as they mature in their own lives. Several of my students, most of whom started with me from the beginner level, have auditioned and been accepted into college music programs, and some are now professional musicians. Most of my students, however, have intelligently aimed toward other professions and work, and I believe their weekly time with me over the long-term has influenced them in many ways outside of music, toward creating meaningful lives of accomplishment and enjoyment, sharing their work with their community."
"I play professionally across multiple genres of classical, jazz, blues, rock and pop music, which greatly informs my teaching. 'Teacher / mentor / coach' is a deep and important part of who I am. Over my decades of teaching, I have taken great pleasure in helping students of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals, to make real progress in all aspects of their instrumental and musical development. I value my mentoring / coaching relationship with my students, and clear communication with my student’s parents / guardians and family. I look forward to helping you or your child on a musical journey!
I teach every student in unique ways based on my fluid and evolving understanding of their learning needs, styles, pace, potential, and their own preferences! My students get the instructional delivery and style they need in the moment to build skills, captivate their interest, and sharpen their attention and focus. I teach my students the skills they need and the styles they want to play (as appropriate to their level) coaching my students in how to construct rich musical lives.
I have had the opportunity to coach some incredibly talented students, using a teaching style that focuses on embracing a quest for their best, and places a high value on growing and learning at near their maximum growth rate, to help them make fast progress toward their high potential. I also have wonderful students of all levels of learning and talent who need or desire a softer, less urgent learning process, one that is more experiential. Either way, my teaching styles and experience allow the student, parents / guardians, and myself to discover and set an organic and enjoyable pace of musical learning for each individual student.
Consistent practice sessions are the expectation for my students, and a necessity for success at any level! The more my students practice, perform, and play in public, the richer their musical lives are! I coach my students to be aware and organized, so they understand and can explain to others what their focus areas are now, and what the next steps in their journey of musical learning will be. My students learn the distinction between practicing and playing music: what each is, how they're related and flow into one another, and why we musicians and music learners do what we do!
My teaching styles are flexible not for those reasons alone. Additionally, I always have an eye toward igniting the 'fires of musical interest, passion and learning' in my students, and keeping them lit! Cultivating those 'fires' of motivation is tricky, and very individuated. Yet, because I always assess and adjust my instruction to be balanced, I have a strong track record of keeping motivation and interest high, which helps my students to stick with musical learning and enjoyment.
Helping my students surround themselves with music is a key to their growth as musicians. I help cultivate my students' musical tastes through listening recommendations or assignments, and often send them information on local live performances they might enjoy attending.
In addition to learning about music, my students learn more about how they learn best, how to set and meet goals, organize their work for success and act with integrity, focus, and enjoyment. I take great pride and joy in seeing my students grow, using what they've learned in our lessons as they mature in their own lives. Several of my students, most of whom started with me from the beginner level, have auditioned and been accepted into college music programs, and some are now professional musicians. Most of my students, however, have intelligently aimed toward other professions and work, and I believe their weekly time with me over the long-term has influenced them in many ways outside of music, toward creating meaningful lives of accomplishment and enjoyment, sharing their work with their community."