Instructor spotlight - Rick Rossi

This week, our featured instructor is the one and only owner of our school; jazz improvisation LA teacher Rick Rossi. An all-around woodwind master, Rick has been nominated multiple times for a Grammy and won when he was a member of the Brian Setzer Orchestra. His compositions and arrangements have appeared in TV and film, as well as studio recordings. His endorsements include Legere Reeds for use on all his saxophones and clarinets.

Rick’s live TV appearances include Conan O’Brian, David Letterman, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Regis and Kathie Lee, MTV, and VH-1. Some of the world class artists he has performed with include Shakira, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Caldwell, and Cher. TV shows and movies he has appeared and composed music for include Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Wedding Crashers, and Monster-in-law.

Rick’s teaching experience goes back to when he was getting his master’s degree in woodwind performance at the University of Akron. There, he was an adjunct instructor of saxophone. While he was in Ohio, he also taught ensembles, methods classes and woodwinds at Muskingum College in New Concord. He was professor of woodwind classes and music history at Eubanks Conservatory of Music, and when he moved to LA he taught at the Grove School of Music as jazz improvisation instructor. He had a full studio of all woodwind instruction at Baxter Northup Music for over a decade, and since then he has maintained a private studio at his own school (Los Angeles Music Teachers).

His own jazz improvisation method in Los Angeles has been in use for decades and has helped students of every level, age and ability start improvising in just a few lessons. He has compiled videos and testimonials for many years which are proof that his method is 100% effective. His happy students stay with him for a long time and are constantly learning. Rick has written two books and has numerous free videos on his active YouTube channel, which has attracted students who saw the amazing power of the method in those videos. While he has employed traditional teaching methods in the past, he found that it is a lot more inspiring to inspire students with what they actually want to learn. They will only want to practice consistently if they are playing what they are interested in playing. He has fun breaking down difficulties for students and assessing their strengths and weaknesses. Rick is truly a diamond in the rough in LA as a woodwind and jazz improvisation teacher.