Teaching
Director of Jazz Studies | Instructor of Saxophone
Wells School of Music
West Chester University, Pennsylvania
For interest in private lessons, work with a young ensemble, or as a guest at a college or university, please contact me here
Wells School of Music Summer Jazz Camp
Join WCU faculty for a week-long immersive camp in creativity and improvisation. West Chester University’s Summer Jazz Camp is designed for advanced middle school and all high school students. Participants will explore jazz improvisation, arranging, orchestration, jazz history, and performance techniques. Visiting artists as well as the WCU faculty will perform and conduct masterclasses on various subjects. All participants will need to have knowledge of scales, be able to read music, transpose, and be proficient on an instrument. For more information, click here
Central PA High School All-Star Big Band
In partnership with the Harrisburg Jazz Collective, the Central PA High School All-Star Big Band is a new initiative for talented improvisers in the Central PA region to come together during the summer, have rehearsals and clinics with members of the HJC and perform alongside the band. 2023 marks the third season for the ensemble! This educational initiative brings together students from multiple school districts, who otherwise do not have the opportunity to meet and make music together. The concert will take place at the Iron Bridge Music Festival in New Cumberland’s Borough Park on June 16th @ 5pm
The Alliance for Creativity and Improvisation, is an organization sponsoring the ensemble and new initiatives around the state. Participating schools as of May 1st, 2023: Wells School of Music, West Chester University; Messiah University; Boyer College of Music and Dance, Temple University.
Participating Schools and Directors:
Cumberland Valley High School - Scott Ainscough
Central Dauphin High School - Brandon Bitner
Dallastown High School - Justin Buer
Hershey High School - Brandon Buterbaugh
Cedar Cliff High School - George Clements *
Mechanicsburg High School - Ben Goldsborough
Lower Dauphin High School - Keith Richardson
Red Land High School - Rob Starrett *
Boiling Springs High School - Dave Yinger
* Hosts and Facilitating Faculty
For more information about the festival, visit: http://ironbridgemusicfest.org/
Generous Support for the Project comes from:
Anonymous Donor “Family and Friends of John Verrazzani”
Music Before Words
Music Before Words is an experimental and progressive program of musical interaction with children 3 months to 18 months. In the spring of 2015, Renee Bock and I initiated a new music program at Explore + Discover, an early learning center in downtown Manhattan. Read more about it in Renee's article for New York Family. Read the full article, here: http://www.newyorkfamily.com/.