Duncan Martin's Teaching Method and Philosophy

Having had four children of my own and having taught thousands of youngsters and adults, I am most interested in helping students develop strategies to internalize the vast amounts of information needed to learn to play the saxophone and play jazz. Providing a safe and supportive environment for students is my prime concern in helping them to enjoy the process and the rewards that come from playing music with others. The John Payne Music Center is a perfect venue for learning. 

As soon as the beginner can play a major scale, I start the improvisational and ear training aspect of musical self-expression. In the case of saxophone students, that may begin as early as the 5th or 6th lesson. As we get to know each other, I begin to sense a student's strengths, i.e. left/right brain dominance or equality. While supporting the dominant (easier) strategy of the student, I encourage the development of the opposite (more difficult) strategy. 

As students play a scale, I ask them to be aware of the following visuals: 

1. The letter name of each tone.
2. The place on the instrument (fingering) that goes with the name.
3. The step of the scale that coincides with the tone. In the G major scale, G is step 1, A is step 2, B is step 3, etc.
4. The place on the music staff where one would read that note.
   
5. The sound of each tone. (A tone refers to sound -- a note is the symbol of that sound on the printed page.) 

While one or two of the above items will be stronger than the others, I encourage the awareness, on some level, of the other items. Jerry Bergonzi says in his excellent book, Vol. 1, Melodic Structures, “with the use of visualization, the mind actually teaches the body; the mind remembers what the body is more apt to forget.” He goes on to say that, “whatever you are able to visualize you will then be able to play. 

With guidance and encouragement, students are able to express emotions through their improvisations. We live in a time when materials have been developed to facilitate the learning process in an enjoyable way. 

The Jamey Aebersold play-a-long CD's and books, www.jazzbooks.com are a wonderful aid and I encourage their use. BAND-IN-A-BOX, by PG Music Inc.is a fairly inexpensive application that allows one to enter chords with excellent play-a-long accompaniments of many styles which can be set to any speed. www.pgmusic.com 

Alto saxophonist Bobby Watson said in a clinic I observed, “Whatever you're playing, whether it's scales, chords or patterns, make it musical.” The bottom line is to play, play, play and enjoy the process.

 

Providing a safe and supportive environment for students is my prime concern in helping them to enjoy the process and the rewards that come from playing music with others.

"...I'd rather hear B. B. King play two or three notes than hear most guys play all night.  Each note means something."
         The late Jim Hall, Guitarist


"I don't play fast because I can't.
          The late Jim Hall, Guitarist

"He is such a virtuoso that it scares me  to be on the same bandstand.  I felt that I had to practice every day so that I wouldn't let Sonny down.  I produced because I was scared of Sonny."
          The late Jim Hall, Guitarist, speaking of Sonny Rollins