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Sax players think they are special... because they are!
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| Matt Hepworth - Saxophone Instructor |
Matt Hepworth - Saxophone Teacher
email: matt@gillsmusic.net
Although I had been surrounded by music since birth
with my mother teaching piano lessons and my father a professional singer, my official involvement in music came when I started
singing in a children's choir at age four and began taking piano lessons at age five. Singing and playing the piano are
to this day some of my greatest joys.
In elementary school, I began playing the saxophone and soon realized that I
was quite passionate about it; I would come home from school and practice for hours, only stopping when my parents made me.
I excelled very quickly on the sax. In the 6th grade, I was fortunate enough to get a spot to study privately with Greg Wilson,
a renowned performer. By high school, I was tripling on tenor, alto and soprano saxophone as the lead soloist in my music
classes. Also during high school, I had the opportunity to perform at the University of Texas and supplement my studies with
Mr. Wilson with those of Dr. Jeff Hellmer. I was received multiple awards during high school for my achievements in music.
I continued to study music and perform throughout college while I earned my BS in Business Management/Marketing.
Since college, I have traveled throughout California and the Pacific Northwest to perform music. I currently sing, tour,
and perform on my saxophone with a group based in Oakland. I also teach on the faculty of Central Jr. High, in Pittsburg.
One of my strengths as a saxophone teacher is my ability to teach improvisational and jazz skills. With all of my
students, I emphasize teaching the fundamentals of music, especially rhythm, and correct technique and I supplement these
studies with music of any style in which the student has an interest. I take great pride in teaching my students about music
theory, music history, sight-reading, ear training, and all styles and eras of music. Throughout the course of lessons, every
student will understand how to read music and play according to the expression marks on the page. In order to allow my students
to get together, perform, and share ideas, master classes and recitals are held multiple times of year, free of charge. Having
lived in Argentina and earned a minor in Spanish, I am also able to teach Spanish-speaking students.
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