Welcome!
I am pleased that you are interested in saxophone lessons.
I'm Mat Clasen and I've been working as a professional musician for over 30 years, mainly in Germany. For example, I play in Otto Waalkes' live band and for many years I was solo flautist and saxophonist in James Last's orchestra.
Since I've been making music, I've always had great joy in sharing my experience and knowledge. My parents were both teachers and musicians, so I guess teaching is in my blood. And the music anyway.
If you like, give me a call (0172-450 69(two)8) or send me an email (info(at)matclasen.de), then we can talk over a cup of tea or coffee about what interests you and what I have to offer - free of charge and without obligation. Of course, we can also play a few notes on this occasion to find out where you are at the moment and where you would like to be.
I would be happy to hear from you!
Best regards, Matt
Ein paar Details zu meinem Saxophon-Unterricht
My lessons are practical.
Here I mostly work with pieces from which a field of learning can be opened up. For example, if you're concerned about sound or interpretation, I might suggest a ballad that you like, with long notes to shape. If the issue is timing and phrasing, we could work with a funk piece or a riff from it that we play in a circle until it fits and then vary it. If you would like to learn how to improvise, we could, for example, deal with a blues and what it can do for improvisation.
Possible learning areas are:
- The first steps on the new instrument, learning the saxophone from scratch
- Work on pieces you've always wanted to play
- Free use of music through variation of melodies or through improvisation
- Expressive playing through versatile phrasing and a stable sense of rhythm
- Tone creation, unfolding your full tone potential and control over it
- Preparation for concerts, auditions, entrance exams, e.g. for university studies, studio appointments
- Music theory, which flows almost unnoticed into the lessons
- …and much more.
I have playalongs for many songs that you can play to. In some cases even the basic tracks of CD productions that I was involved in, material from the real life of a musician, so to speak. In addition, there is the possibility of professionally recording you in my studio in the Schlossgraben in Dannenberg and thus documenting important stages of your musical development.
My many years of experience as a live and studio musician flows into the lessons.
Especially when you play or want to play in front of an audience, there are aspects that have nothing to do with making music itself. It is important to deal with stage fright or with the feeling of not being allowed to make any mistakes. Or it's about presence on stage and wanting to reach someone. It's about communication with colleagues and technicians. There, aspects of your game that seem irrelevant in the practice room become important, and some things you've been struggling with suddenly don't matter live. With my wealth of experience as a professional musician, I can provide valuable assistance and tips in these matters.
In general, I tailor the saxophone lessons to you personally.
You can determine what is important to you and what is not. Although I will of course always strive to inspire you and broaden your horizons, we move in the genre of your choice. And if you like Bohemian brass band music, I'll teach you that too.
Prices
I am currently taking saxophone lessons for 45 minutes for €50. This is usually the appropriate length for a unit. If required, I can also offer 30-minute lessons for €35 or 60-minute lessons for €65. I don't make contracts, we meet by the hour. So you can pause, stop or even insert a more intensive lesson time at any time, if necessary. Nevertheless, when learning something new, a certain continuity is of course useful. So if you would like to take saxophone lessons regularly, I would reserve a specific weekly appointment for you and then we can see at which intervals you would like to take them.
