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.
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.
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.
“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.”
“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!”
“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.”
“Alexa’s session was a huge success and our Key of She girls are still raving about it!”
“The way Alexa Tarantino communicates as a teacher is so clear and encouraging, you just want to listen to her.”
“Alexa Tarantino is a consummate musician, an exceptional performer and a natural pedagogue – she is simply remarkable.”
“[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.”
“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!”
“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.”
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.
Private study options and masterclasses/clinics/workshops can be tailored to fit your student, school, and curriculum needs. Get in touch today!