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Join Team Tarantino with new hats, mugs, e-books, and more in the online store! CLICK HERE
Join Team Tarantino with new hats, mugs, e-books, and more in the online store! CLICK HERE

Teaching by the Numbers...

States + Countries Taught
Workshops Taught
Students Taught
Ages Taught

Work with Alexa 1-on-1

I support a handful of individuals one-on-one in a high-impact customized coaching environment to help them transform a creative, musical, or career dream into reality.

Past clients' goals and themes include but are not limited to:

  • Intermediate & Advanced Saxophone Instruction
  • Jazz Theory & Improvisation Training
  • Woodwind Doubling (Clarinet & Flute Instruction)
  • Ear Training & Solfege Studies
  • Jazz Education, Curriculum, & Instruction Methods
  • Audition/Festival/Performance/Project Preparation
  • Career or Program Design & Development

 

Spaces are extremely limited. Packages range in length from 4 hours to 12 months. Click below to submit your information. After that, we'll schedule an introductory connection call to see if this might be the right fit for you! Serious inquiries only.

Alexa Tarantino holding her hand up to her ear with instruments pointing every which way
Alexa Tarantino wearing leather jacket holding alto sax smiling

Masterclass + Workshop Topics

  • The Fundamentals of the Saxophone
  • Saxophone Technique
  • Saxophone Sectional
  • Big Band Workshop
  • Small Group Improvisation Workshop
  • Jazz Theory & Improvisation
  • Advanced Improvisation
  • Woodwind Doubling 101
  • Keys to Success/Careers in Music
  • Jazz Education and Instruction Methods
  • Audition/Festival/Performance Preparation
  • Other topics tailored to fit your school, student, and curriculum needs!

Cape Ann Jazz Workshop

Alexa is the Founder and Director of the Cape Ann Jazz Workshop (formerly "Rockport Jazz Workshop" est. 2014, Rockport, MA). Alexa expanded the workshop in its first four years from a five-day program with 7 students to a two-week program with 120 students. Guest artists at Cape Ann Jazz Workshop over the years include Walter Blanding Jr., Tanya Darby, Jerome Jennings, Lauren Sevian, Ulysses Owens Jr., Jimmy Greene, Matt Buttermann, Sherrie Maricle, and Paul Nedzela and Kenny Rampton of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Rockport Jazz Workshop music students with musical instruments smiling and raising their hands

The Alexa Approach Virtual Studio

Currently Closed to New Members

What Students & Teachers Are Saying

This was mind-blowing! […] You have opened up a whole new world for me!

Adult Participant,

Jazz Workshop for Elizabeth Erenberg Flute Academy

Alexa’s jazz workshop for my flute academy opened up a new world for a group of classical flutists. She uses her mastery as a performer to be an exquisite teacher. She is articulate, kind, and able to describe concepts for all ages and skill levels. It was so exciting to learn jazz concepts that we can use in our everyday practicing and listening. For a seasoned teacher like me, I now finally understand how to approach improvisation. I’m so thankful to have worked with Alexa.

Elizabeth Erenberg

Founder, Elizabeth Erenberg Flute Academy

Dear Alexa,

Thank you so much for presenting such an inspiring, positive, and informative masterclass! You do such a great job breaking these seemingly overwhelming concepts into simple, step-by-step processes.

I especially appreciated how you explained your improvisational process (and how to go about really learning chord changes), how we can utilize solfege as a tool to improve our ear and intervallic playing, and your story of how you ended up in New York.

Dr. Jeff Benatar

Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Jazz Studies/Coordinator of Music Management, Florida Southern College

“Dear Alexa, I just wanted to drop a line to tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation at Jazzvoice.com. There were a lot of wonderful ‘life hacks’ that I will be incorporating into my daily routine, and your presentation was delightful and charming.”

JazzVoice.Com Attendee

For "What's Next? An Early Career Toolkit" (Nov 24th, 2020)

“That could not have gone better. Thanks for saying an encyclopedia of the right information in just a 50 minute period.  I received lots of texts after we were done, several saying they got tons of ideas for projects for the winter break and the rest of their lives. You sure are a blessing. Thank you!”

Dr. Robert Baca

Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Studies, UW-Eau Claire [From Alexa's "What's Next? An Early Career Toolkit Masterclass, Dec 11th, 2020]

“Alexa gave us so much to think about and such great direction for career building in a way that puts focus on our own well being and building relationships.  If you’re in it for the long haul, these are the keys to success.  Alexa is an engaging and empowering clinician.”

Alexis Cole

Director, JazzVoice.com [from Alexa's "What's Next? An Early Career Toolkit" Masterclass, Nov 24th, 2020]

“Alexa’s session was a huge success and our Key of She girls are still raving about it!”

Olivia Hughart

Founder/Artistic Director, Key of She Jazz

“The way Alexa Tarantino communicates as a teacher is so clear and encouraging, you just want to listen to her.”

Helen H. Cha-Pyo

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts (NJ) [from a Guest Clinician event with the New Jersey Youth Symphony Jazz students, Nov 2020]

“Alexa Tarantino is a consummate musician, an exceptional performer and a natural pedagogue – she is simply remarkable.”

Helen H. Cha-Pyo

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts (NJ) [from a Guest Clinician event with the New Jersey Youth Symphony Jazz students, Nov 2020]

“[I had to] follow up to tell you how great this session was. I spoke about you at the School Committee meeting. The kids were so engaged, and their questions revealed that many were thinking about learning an instrument. You really inspired them, and personally, I had the best afternoon in a long time, and so did the IT director, who normally doesn’t stay on once the Zoom session is going.”

Gregg Bach

Assistant Superintendent, Gloucester (MA) Public Schools [this particular feedback is on the Alexa Tarantino/Steven Feifke Musical Engagement Presentation, part of Alexa's Virtual Residency, Fall/Winter 2020]

“We were honored to have the world-class jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger and music educator, Alexa Tarantino, present a brilliant discussion on jazz improvisation, woodwind doubling and playing lead alto in the widely-recognized Diva Jazz Orchestra for our UNLV Jazz Studies students!”

Dave Loeb

Director of the Division of Jazz and Commercial Music, UNLV School of Music [Nov 2020]

“WOW! What an amazing experience for us all to have Alexa with us as our guest artist for our Winter Concert. To say that she was a dream to work with would be an understatement! Thank you, Alexa, so very much for being so flexible, amenable, affable, collaborative and professional with us all, our faculty, staff, and most importantly, our students.”

Dennis Argul

Senior Director of Music + Education, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS [Winter 2018]

Alexa's Teaching Bio

As an educator, Alexa has experience teaching all ages and ability levels. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes learning by ear to encourage creativity, communication, and improvisation in music-making. She is currently on Faculty for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Education Programs and directs one of their High School Jazz Academy Big Bands. Previously, she served as Jazz Saxophone Faculty at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (Geneva, NY), where she taught jazz saxophone/woodwinds and jazz improvisation to a studio of almost fifteen students ranging from saxophonists to vocalists. Other previous teaching positions include Private Woodwinds Instructor at the LREI Schools in New York City, Rochester Contemporary School of Music, and the Eastman Community Music School in both the Early Childhood and Jazz Studies Departments.

Alexa has been a guest artist/clinician at the New Trier Jazz Festival, Iowa All-State Festival, Berklee College of Music, the Academy of Music in Krakow, Poland, Nazareth College, SUNY Oswego, the Hartt School of Music, and Monroe Community College. In addition, Alexa is a Teaching Artist with the Institute for Creative Music and developed an online course, “Demystifying Jazz Improvisation,” for their “Creative Jazz Fundamentals” series.

Alexa is the Founder and Director of the Rockport Jazz Workshop (est. 2014, Rockport, MA). Rockport Jazz Workshop has expanded in just four years from a five-day program with 7 students to a two-week program with 120 students. Guest artists at Rockport Jazz Workshop over the years include Sherrie Maricle, Jimmy Greene, Matt Buttermann, Ulysses Owens, Jr., and Lauren Sevian.

Tarantino is currently on faculty for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Youth Education Programs and directs one of their High School Jazz Academy big bands. Previously, she served as Jazz Saxophone Instructor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Tarantino continues to visit several colleges, high schools, and summer jazz programs across the globe as a guest clinician.

Alexa holds a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from The Juilliard School and bachelor’s degrees in Jazz Saxophone Performance and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. 

Looking to bring Alexa to your school or event?

Private study options and masterclasses/clinics/workshops can be tailored to fit your student, school, and curriculum needs. Get in touch today!

©2024 Alexa Tarantino / Site by Ellanyze
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