My philosophy on learning music
01. Easier than you think
Music is created by humans for humans. There are no tricks or secrets. Playing well is a matter of using ourselves in a normal way.
02. clarify
Learning is about clarifying what is confusing. Playing well is not about correctness or perfection but what is clear.
03. Everything is related
Everything in music is related. Tone is related to pitch. Perception is related to technique. Everything is related.
03. Love Your Playing
Love your playing and fully embrace what you play at the time. It frees your creative thinking and invites you to learn.
Steve Duke: saxophonist, improviser, teacher
Rooted in jazz and classical traditions, saxophonist Steve Duke has established himself as a leading artist in contemporary music and improvisation. His improvisations and technical prowess in computer music have earned him international acclaim. Duke wrote the first article on the jazz and classical multi-genre technique and developed the first curriculum in the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education. In 2012, he created the blog and Facebook page The Sax Coach, and in 2021 started this website, SaxCoach.org, offering videos, articles, and exercises on learning saxophone and improvisations.
Steve Duke is a Northern Illinois University Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music at the University of North Texas and is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher.
42
Years of experience
teaching saxophone, jazz, and body awareness