Study with me!

TUTORING

QualificationProfessor of Saxophone – LHNCM
ExperienceAward-winning Selmer-artist Tom Hornig is a world-class saxophone player whose ability to combine a jazz sensibility with Middle Eastern music traditions has made him an invaluable asset to some of the Middle Easts premier artists such as Charbel Rouhana, Ziad Rahbani and Hiba Tawaji. He is American and French educated, speaks basic Arabic and currently holds the position of Professor at the Lebanese Conservatory in Beirut. As of this year, Tom was named head of the Jazz Department.
OptionsOnline Tuition Only
ApproachDetailed Class Description:   The first several lessons will be all about establishing a good embouchure, posture, hand position and a basic understanding of the saxophone but also, through the study of scales, a practical understanding of the mechanics of music while studying the mechanics of your instrument through the practice of scales. If, at the end of the 5th week you are able to play all twelve major scales, you will likely play music for the rest of your life. Learning your twelve major scales are that important. Beyond week five a greater emphasis will be put on learning to read and study material will be introduced. Students will be encouraged to do independent research on line to discover the history of the instrument and discover music and musicians they may not have heard of. More advanced students will be encouraged to make clear decisions about learning objectives and reverse-engineer success with focus on developing skill sets needed for desired outcomes. For example: development of a mature saxophone, learning how to improvise, preparing for a solo classical performance, development of an intuitive sense for rhythmic ad melodic phrasing and harmony, learning and memorizing Jazz Standards, composing music and leading an ensemble… Here is a week-by-week general outline:Week-one goals (Free lesson) – Confirm that you have a good set-up (instrument / accessories) – Asses your goals – Get you started with prepared video lessons (a first look at things) Week-two goals – Review subjects covered in videos offered in week-one – Learn a few basic fingerings – Simple daily embouchure and position forming exercises (strictly no sound) Week-three goals – Confirm that muscle memory related to embouchure and position is beginning to settle-in – Learn more fingerings – Simple daily embouchure and position forming exercises (long tones) Week-four goals – Continued, vigilant focus on the formation of a good embouchure, good hand-position and good posture – Learn remaining fingerings (32 notes in the normal range) –  Simple daily embouchure and position forming exercises (articulation exercises) Week-five goals – Assess your progress and interests – Learn all 12 major scales, one octave (fast track for teens and adults) – Learn two to three major scales, one octave and start work on Hubert Prati’s “L’Alphabet du Saxophone” or a similar method study for beginner saxophonists  
Fees (AED)$75/hr

TEACHES

MusicClarinet, Flute, Saxophone, Jazz Improvisation and Music Theory.

TUITION SCHEDULE

Sunday9:am to 9:pm
Monday9:am to 3:pm
Tuesday1pm to 9:pm
Wednesday9:am to 3:pm
Thursday9:am to 3:pm
Friday9:am to 3:pm
Saturday1pm to 9:pm

Contact info:

My email is: tomhornig@gmail.com

Also feel free to reach out via WhatsApp: +9613409921

“Thomas is one of the fascinating musical teachers that not only embodies what it is to be a talented musician w/ phenomenal musical mind being able to adapt & play on varying instruments; teaches you how to adopt the skillset of feeling the music w/in & allowing you to break through any barriers you might’ve built up for yourself & push you to become a more confident musician. His varied skillset transcends traditional lessons I’ve ever had & able to communicate how to learn more effectively, how to grow as a musician, see the learning process in a different way that I’ve not been taught before” Justin Ford

More on the four week plan…

Once you get set up with a good instrument, and this is key, my ideal schedule. involves four weeks of basics after which you will be able to get all the notes to speak, have a well formed embouchure and begin to lear about scales. Musicians all over the world communicate via a language of scales, chords and scale chord relationships. In other words, my personal view is that once you understand the basic mechanics of your instrument and the basic building blocks of music, you will then easily engage in more serious study. And that, once you understand why a certain practice plan can be so empowering, you will find your time alone with your saxophone to be engaging, relaxing and fun!

How to get started?

I advise you to follow the link below as a first step. You will learn about the history of the instrument. And, via the info offered below under “Saxophone Resources”, you can also explore at least some of the choices you may consider as you research instrument, reeds and mouthpieces.

Once you have done some of your own investigating, reach out to me for more info. I charge $75 per lesson and payment can be arranged via PayPal or Venmo. Our Lessons will be on Zoom, Google Meet, WhatsApp or what ever seems to work the best for both us.

In the mean time I will, from time to time, post visa content here that, I think may be helpful.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Links…..

A short history of the Saxophone:

About Me

I Love teaching! Why, because it is my view that music will dramatically improve your life and how well you interact with others. As the one language that has no boundaries or borders, you will soon understand why musicians like me are so driven. We understand, intuitively what music does for the human spirit and the power of its ability to teach empathy, the importance and value of teamwork and the realization of our common humanity. Then, of coarse, there is the Saxophone which possesses unmatchable power and depth. It is the closest instrument to the human voice but can do so many things the human voice cannot. For these reasons, the saxophone has long been one of the most recorded and popular instruments in western music. So versatile is the saxophone, that it has easily found its way into virtually every culture and even style of music imaginable. You will consider yourself very fortunate indeed once you begin to have basic ability and a basic understanding of the worlds greatest language and what we saxophonists believe is the greatest of all instruments!

My Bio: https://www.selmer.fr/en/artist/thomas-hornig

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SAXOPHONE RESOURCES

Recommendations for:

Purchasing your Saxophone and accessories:

Saxophones

  • Saxophones
    • Soprano
      • Yamaha – YSS–875/soprano (fuller, darker sound)
      • Yamaha – YSS–62/soprano curved neck (rich vibrant sound)
      • Selmer – Series II or III
      • Selmer – Mark VI
      • Yanagasawa
  • Alto
    • Yamaha – YAS–875-EX or YA 875 EXII (Regular Lacquer, Silver or Gold Plate)
  • Selmer – Series II, III
    • Selmer – Mark VII
    • Selmer – Reference 54
    • Selmer – Balanced Action and Super Balanced Action
    • Yanagasawa
    • Roy Benson
    • Buffet Crampon
    • JL Woodwinds
  • Tenor
    • Yamaha – YTS–875 (Regular Lacquer, Silver or Gold Plate)
    • YTS – 62
    • Selmer Series II or III
    • Selmer Reference 54
    • Selmer Mark VI
    • Selmer – Balanced Action and Super Balanced Action
    • Yanagasawa
    • Roy Benson
    • Buffet Crampon
    • Baritone
      • Yamaha – YBS-62
      • YBS-52/baritone
      • YBS-62/baritone
      • Selmer – Series II or III
      • Selmer Reference 52
      • Selmer Mark VI
      • Selmer – Balanced Action and Super Balanced Action
      • Yanagasawa
      • Roy Benson
      • Buffet Crampon
  • Ligatures
    • soprano, alto, tenor, baritone
      • Vandoren Optimum
      • Ligaphone

A NOTE ON REEDS:

  1. The decision which strength of the reed to use depends on the facing and opening of the mouthpiece. Onclassical mouthpieces the tip opening is smalerl and harder reeds are needed. However, Preparatory yearbeginner students will usually feel more comfortable with a 2.5 strength reed.
  • The increase in number refers to an increase in strength (thickness) of the reed.
  • The smaller the distance is between the tip of the reed and the tip of the mouthpiece, the harder reed /strengthone needs to use (i.e. harder reeds relate to higher numbers).
  • Many other fine brands exist on the market, and strengths vary. Inauditioning newer brands of reeds, choose a few of each strengthcategory to ascertain the one which is right for you.
  1. Classical Reeds
  1. Brands
    1. Vandoren Blue Box
  2. Ligaphone
  3. Rico Royal
  4. Gonzalez
  5. La Voz (etc.)
  • Reed Strength
1. Soprano3
2. Alto3, 2.5
3. Tenor3.0
4. Baritone3.0
  1. Jazz Reeds
  1. Brands
    1. Vandoren Java
    2. Vandoren V16
    3. D’Addario Jazz Select
    4. Ligaphone Jazz
Reed Strength 
1. Soprano 3
2. Alto 3, 2.5
3. Tenor 3.0
4. Baritone 3.0  
  1. Classical Mouthpieces
  1. Brands
    1. Selmer Concept
    2. Vandoren Optimum
  • Size (no size spec with Selmer)
    • Soprano        SL3
    • Alto              AL3
    • Tenor            TL3
    • Baritone        BL3
  1. Jazz Mouthpieces
  1. Brands
    1. Vandoren
    2. Beechler
    3. Otto Link
    4. Berg Larson
    5. Dukoff Metal
  • Size
    • Soprano
      • Vandoren V16
      • Otto Link 6* to 7*, medium chamber (hard rubber)
      • Selmer (older soloist style), S80 or S-90 style
  • Alto
  1. Beechler (S7S or M7S)
  2. Meyer 5M-6M
  • Otto Link 5* to  7* medium chamber (hard rubber)
  • Vandoren V16 A6 – A8, short or medium chamber
    • Tenor
      • Berg Larson 95/1 to 115/1 or 95/2 to 105/2 (hard rubber or metal)
      • Dukoff Metal (7 – 9 facing)
      • Otto Link 6*, 7* 8*, medium chamber (either hard rubber or metal)
      • Vandoren V16: T7, T 8, Short or medium chamber
    • Baritone
      • Berg Larson 100/1 to 115/1 or 100/2 to 115/2 (either hard rubber or metal)
  • Otto Link 5* to 7* (either hard rubber or metal)
    • Vandoren V16: B7, or B8, Short or medium chamber
  • Accessories
    • Reed Cases
      • Harrison andsimilar types of glass surface cases (to be kept in a zip lock with small sponge for properhumidity
      • Humidor Box (from cigar store) placed in a Tupperware container
  • Rico Reed System (humidity control case) w/ Rico Control Pack
    • Vandoren Reed System (humidity control case)
    • Protec Reed Case
  • Tuners and Metronomes
  • Cleaning Devices
    • LaVoz Mouthpiece Mouse
    • Handkerchief (clarinet) swab (for saxophone neck)
  • Neck Straps
    • BG
    • Harness Straps
    • JL Woodwinds
  • Cases and Gig Bags
    • Hard shell cases are strongly recommended because of their durability
    • Selections
      • ProTech contour case
      • Selmer or Yamaha cases or jazz pack
      • Bam Trekking or High Tech Case
      • Wisemann
    • Minor Repair Items
      • Lemon Oil
      • Five-piece jewelers screwdriver set
      • Key oiler (key oil in an applicator bottle: mix 1-part 10W40 motor oil with 1 part sewing machine oil)
      • Spring hook

Accessories

Jazz Saxophone Reeds

            cc8254.html

      Tenor-Saxophone-Reeds-462678.wwbw

      462594.wwbw

          462581.wwbw

Classical Saxophone Reeds

          462581.wwbw

Reed Maintenance

Classical Mouthpieces

Jazz Mouth Pieces

https://www.wwbw.com/Vandoren-V16-Series-Hard-Rubber-Alto-Saxophone-  Mouthpiece-463139.wwbw

 Ligatures

  1. http://www.ligaphoneparis.eu/catalogue/universal-ligature-cc5418.html
  2. https://youtu.be/pSImLw38FyA
  3. https://youtu.be/fccJQ7ZI2yw
  4. https://youtu.be/-rAdh6EljY0
  5. https://youtu.be/STrGA3QmbJg
  6. https://youtu.be/QiKchuRFi3Y
  7. https://www.thomann.de/gb/vandoren_ligatures_and_caps.html

Instrument Repair Shops:

ï       JL  Woodwind Repair (NYC)

https://www.jlwoodwindrepair.com/

ï       Musique et Art (Paris, France)

https://www.musique-et-art.com/

Instruments/ Reeds/ Accessories

  • Thomann (World leader in Online Sales)

https://www.thomann.de

  • Woodwind and Brasswind (US based Online dealer)

https://www.wwbw.com

Mouthpiece Basics and Custom Work

Mouthpieces Notes:

Note:The use of letters such as C and D or numbers such as 5,6 and 7 indicate the amount of space betweenthe tip-rail and the reed-tip.  This space is often called the tip-opening or lay of the mouthpiece.  The addition ofa star or asterisk (*) after a letter or the increase in number or progression through the alphabet indicates awider or larger tip-opening.

Each mouthpiece manufacturer has its own numbering and/or lettering system that determines the facing and tip opening.  This will obviously affect the quality of sound (dark-bright), resonance of sound, response and ofcourse the choice of both the strength and brand of the reed.

For advanced players, mouthpiece modifications beyond the stock product might be considered. This is rarely beneficial to beginner and intermediate players. The mouthpieces listed above are highly consistent and the factory and will rarely require adjustment. Where adjustment is necessary, the following technicians are recommended:

  • JL  Woodwind  Repair 223 West 36th  3F  New YorkNY, 10018 201.  229.2512

JLWoodwindrepair@gmail.com

  • Meridian Winds 2807 Jolly Road Okemos,  MI48864 517.339.7333

www.meridianwinds.com

contact: Brennan Lagan

  • Robert Scott Mouthpieces

2930   Sunderland Lansing, MI 517.882.9800

contact: Robert Scott

  • Brad Behn 405.651.6063  bradbehn@ho  tmail.com