We offer saxophone lessons for all types of student: beginners, children, adults, those preparing for university auditions, HSC, and so on.
Students of all ages and standards are welcome. Jazz Workshop caters to students who want to learn to play jazz or who are looking for an alternative to traditional exam-based teaching methods. However, exams are available through the JWA Jazz Syllabus.
Saxophone lessons are available from Monday to Saturday. Lessons cost from $41/ half hour or $80/ hour for weekly lessons paid in advance. We have four teachers on our faculty. We can advise you on who would be most suitable for you or your child:
Richard Savery, B.Mus.
Richard Savery (Bachelor of Music – Sydney Conservatorium of Music) is recognised as one of Australia’s finest young baritone saxophonists and bass clarinetists. He performs on saxophone (bari/tenor/alto) clarinet (Bb and bass) and flute. He also works as a composer and sound designer for a range of formats including video games and short films as well as many other projects. Richard currently leads L.I.E – an 8 part ensemble playing entirely original music.
He is a member of the Marianna Ensemble with whom he has performed on ABC’s national radio program Sunday Live, Artsong NSW, Venue 505, Qirkz, Camelot, and Newcastle University, among many other venues.
In 2010 he was was accepted into the Banff International Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music led by Dave Douglas where he studied with Darcy James Argue, Donny McCaslin, Myra Melford and Ravi Coltrane. In 2012 he was awarded the Australia Council Art Start Grant to further develop his career. Richard has performed with artists including Hank Roberts, Jeff Parker, Darcy James Argue, Alan Cumming, Lance Horne (Emmy Award winner 2008), Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls), Bob Downe, Meow Meow, and many others.
As well as teaching at Jazz Workshop Australia he teaches saxophone at Shore and conducts the Baulkham Hills High School Big Band.
You can find out more (including recent credits and upcoming projects) at www.richardsavery.com or click here to listen to some recordings of Richard’s work.
“a strong concept and a developed sense of lyricism; Nice sound!” Gary Smulyan.
Matthew Ottignon, B.Mus Hons (Jazz)
Matt Ottignon is an acclaimed sax player/multi-instrumentalist. A finalist at the 2002 Wangaratta National Jazz Awards, two-time Freedman Fellowship nominee and one of Australia’s hardest working musicians, he “creates sounds that spring from everywhere he’s been and everything he’s seen… music that’s undoubtedly earning him a place among the key constituents of the contemporary scene”.
He has been performing since the age of 13 and plays tenor, baritone, alto and soprano saxes as well as clarinet, bass clarinet and flute. Matt graduated in 1999 from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Jazz) First Class Honours. He is currently part of the Musica Viva in Schools program with the Sousaphonics which performs to schools throughout Australia.
Matt’s grandmother toured the world playing the harp with Liberace… his dad played flute and sax with Manfred Mann in a London-based jazz quartet. His youngest brother is an internationally renowned pianist living in Paris… his sister is based in London and has performed as a singer all over the world… and his other brother is a hot bass player who tours with Matt.
Among a host of industry legends, Matt has appeared on stage with internationals from Lou Reed and Brian Wilson to Steve Cropper and Donald “Duck” Dunn. He’s played with and/or appeared on the recordings of (among others), Blue King Brown, Portishead, The Herd, Jimmy & Mahalia Barnes, Katie Noonan, Marcia Hines, Aria winners Monsieur Camembert, Dereb the Ambassador, Ten Part Invention, Guy Sebastian, Jackie Orszazcky, Bernie McGann, Cameron Undy and multi-award winning trumpeter/composer Phil Slater.
Matt teaches saxophone and clarinet. He prefers intermediate to advanced students.
“Ottignon’s saxophone, meanwhile, can cry sadly, compound itself with digital loops or fill the foreground with a classic tenor sound that’s as wide as a double-frontage terrace.” John Shand, SMH 2007
Peter Farrar, B.Mus.
Peter Farrar is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a degree in Jazz Performance.
He has wide experience in performance from mainstream settings through to cutting-edge contemporary improvised music. He is known for his combination of dazzling technique and sublime tone, and is one of Australia’s most respected young saxophonists.
Peter has a passionate interest in teaching, to which he brings a unique, but effective, improvisation-based approach. He has experience not only as a private teacher, but also tutoring outstanding student ensembles and coordinating exciting mentoring projects for younger musicians.
Peter has performed with leading Australian and international artists including Mike Nock, Dale Gorfinkel, Jim Denley, Amanda Stewart, Wadada Leo Smith and Cor Fuhler. He also works with such groups as Splinter Orchestra, 8-ball, Dave Panichi Septet and Farfinkel Pugowski
Peter Farrar on alto nearly stole the show with his solo on “Lieb”. He has a tone reminiscent of Ornette Coleman and an expeditious array of ideas. Peter Wockner, Jazz and Beyond 2006.
Gai Bryant, B.Mus.
Gai Bryant is a saxophonist/composer, flute player, and educator. She has performed and collaborated with Korean taegum maestro Won Hyang-Juan, Jim McNeely, Carl Orr, Mark Simmonds, Paul McNamara, Sandy Evans, Jackie Orzaczky, Jann Rutherford, Lloyd Swanton, Janet Seidel, Don Burrows, Roger Frampton and many others. She has studied with soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom and composers Mike Gibbs and Jim McNeely. Gai has toured with her own groups within Australia performing at major jazz venues and jazz festivals. Internationally she has toured to Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sweden and Finland performing with her own groups and as a guest instrumentalist.
Gai is undertaking her Masters of Music Composition at Sydney Conservatorium of Music researching Cuban folkloric music styles. She visited Cuba in 2012 and will present her works in Havana with local musicians in November 2013. The Australian Music Centre published a jazz kit featuring five of Gai’s charts with classroom activities in July 2012. In 2008 she was Jazz Artist in Residence for Armidale schools and Regional Conservatorium. Gai has mentored players for IAJE Sisters in Jazz Program and Sandy Evans’ Workshop for Women.
Gai teaches saxophone and flute. She is happy to work with musicians at any level of experience.