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Testimonials
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We've Been Voted "Best Piano Lessons in Burbank" for the past 3 years.
Maggie Verdin
1 week ago
Teacher David is the greatest with my 3 yr old son. My son looks forward to class on a weekly basis. David meets my son where he’s at! There are days when my son has a 3 minute attention span, and other days when he doesn’t want class to end. Regardless of my sons mood, teacher David is patient, and motivating. David goes above and beyond as he provides check-ins between classes and homework videos. My son is learning basics with regards to drumming, and has shown more interest in different beats, counting, and speeds. It has been about 2.5 months since he started and he has not lost motivation. We are pleased with his instruction!
Cavin Mohrhardt
3 weeks ago
Both the school and teacher they paired me with (Lainey White) were extremely professional and amazing to work with. The only reason I had to stop taking from them is my own personal time commitments. They were easy to get a hold of and reschedule if I had a conflict come up last minute, and even went above and beyond when we had a billing issue that caused me to be overcharged. They immediately corrected the error and put me at ease. I couldn't recommended them enough!
Ronnie Rios
12 weeks ago
What a great experience with the crew at Los Angeles Music Teachers - Burbank on Sunset. Friendly, professional and zero pressure. Big thumbs up. I went directly there to buy my daughter's keyboard after reading the spotty feedback on Guitar Center across the street.
Carolyn Rasske
16 weeks ago
I had a great time learning the cello with Gvantsa. Having never played a string instrument and not being able to read music, she was so patient with me and gave great instruction. Communication from Rick was quick and professional as well. I highly recommend classes here.
Michael Mora
47 weeks ago
Max's vast knowledge of music, experience and love for playing music makes him a highly qualified guitar teacher. His love for music is contagious and has inspired me to put more time into the practice routines he's suggested. Since taking guitar lessons with Max over the last few months, I have seen various areas of my playing improve, playing music finally feels real! He is experienced in many different genres of music as well. It does not matter if you are just starting or have been playing for years, Max will take your guitar playing to a whole new level. His patience separates him from the average guitar teacher, my expectations exceeded for sure! Max has made each lesson a personal experience and has done nothing but invests his time and energy to improve my playing, great tips and tricks for beginners. I recommend Max to any serious musician or someone who wants to test the waters like me and start to learn! Mike M.
Elora Krzanich
48 weeks ago
I look forward to my weekly piano lesson now more than ever. Having made the quick transition to Zoom, Max didn't miss a beat with our lessons! He's been great to take advantage of the features that help make learning easier. Screen sharing so that both of us are able to annotate the sheet music has been amazing! If I have a question about something, I can just circle it on screen so we can still have a discussion. I'm so glad to have this small sense of normalcy during all this. Thanks Max!!
Tayler Croft
48 weeks ago
I've always loved the violin. I went to my niece's music recital, and their school had an older gentleman who had been taking voice lessons and was brave enough to perform solo alongside the young students. The next day I Googled "music lessons in Los Angeles" and had a call out to Rick by the end of the business day. Rick immediately set me up with both a teacher (Xochitl) and a store for beginner violin rentals. I've been taking lessons from Xochitl for about 5 months now. Of course, it had to happen amidst the public health crisis, so I've had to switch to online classes. I wasn't sure this would be an effective way to learn violin, but honestly not much has changed. Xochitl is as fun as professional as ever, and I still feel my (limited) abilities growing despite not being face to face. I'm very grateful that I can continue my musical journey with Xochitl despite the quarantine. I am 32 with a highly stressful job, and I do not always have time to put in the practice that I should. However, Xochitl always finds something to praise, and never loses her patience with me. It is more appreciated than she probably knows - my piano teacher used to screech at me when I was young. Given that the violin is probably one of the most difficult instruments to play, I think it speaks volumes that in 5 months Xochitl has made it so engaging and accessible (particularly for an adult student like myself), that I went ahead and purchased one! I am looking forward to improving and highly recommend Rick and his team for anyone with even a shadow of a wish to play music.
David C. Kang
48 weeks ago
Maddie teaches flute to our 10-year old daughter, and is wonderful. She is patient and gentle, and willing to let our daughter learn the type of music she wants. But she provides energy and direction, and we have been totally happy with her. Our daughter looks forward to lessons with Maddie and we'll keep her as long as we can. The service is also very professional, very careful, and we have had excellent interactions with the logistics and paying part. I highly recommend this service. Truly wonderful experience with everything.
Joel Flynn
49 weeks ago
Bjorn has been our piano instructor to my 2 boys under 10 years old for the last few months and we are desperately missing our weekly sessions during this quarantine time. Bjorn is remarkably patient and creative at finding avenues of interest to keep my hyperactive boys engaged and progressing. Looking forward to getting back on track with Bjorn!
Juliana Grisales
49 weeks ago
I highly recommend Los Angeles Music Teachers. Their customer service and quality of classes is outstanding. Specially their voice teachers Maria and Danielle. I love taking classes with them. They are caring and love singing/teaching. They take time to ensure you have the right technique and the right songs for you to practice. They are both very personable and really nice people!
Nicole Gaitan
49 weeks ago
I have had a wonderful experience learning from LA Music Teachers. I have been taking violin lessons from Nori for about 5 months. As an adult student, it can be hard to find the time to consistently practice, but Nori has been such a wonderfully patient teacher when my weeks have gotten more hectic. Nori has non-traditionally broken down the basics of learning the violin and is incredibly patient. I highly recommend the one-on-one experience LA Music teachers has given me and for such a reasonable cost per session!
Minshu Zhan
52 weeks ago
I’m from New York and have been taking online classes with Rick since 5 months now. While looking for music teachers in NY, all teachers that I found wanted to teach me theory for the first 2-4 months since I had very little background in music. I’ve never been good at learning anything theoretically. I learn by practicing and doing rather than reading. This led me to start searching for teachers who were willing to give online lessons without starting with theory, that’s when I found Rick on Quora. Theory is undoubtedly important, but it’s even more important for a student to be interested in the classes. The interest for most comes from practical training rather than theory. Rick is the only teacher provides hands-on training from day 1. No fluff. And he shows you proof before you even start. No other teachers show before and after of their students. His system just works! Today after just 5 months of training, I can play as good as someone who’s been trained for 3+ years. He’ll talk you into overcoming your psychological barriers and train your muscles till music is second nature to you.
Justin Davis
Nov 28, 2019
To say that Rick was a lifesaver for me, would be the biggest understatement ever! I stumbled across Rick just off of the first few results that came up after googling “Music Teachers in LA.” Well, as luck should have it, I got lucky! My goal & only reason for wanting to take saxophone lessons, was to be able to learn a particular song & be able to play it for my future wife as she walks down the aisle at our wedding. Oh, and this was going to be a complete surprise for my wife! So not only was I nervous about playing again, let alone at my wedding, but I also had to some how become the greatest liar of all time, to be able to sneak away twice a week to my lessons! Tall order right?? Not for Rick! After the first few sessions, not only did I start to gain confidence that I would be able to pull this miracle off, I truly believed that I would knock it out of the park! I had played the saxophone before when I was a kid, but hadn’t picked one up in 20 years. I gave myself & Rick 9 months to get this done and I was ready for the big day by month 7! We used the final two months as a tune up (no pun intended) period, to make sure we had all of our T’s crossed & I’s dotted. Throughout my 9 months with Rick, he was extremely accommodating with my ever changing schedule, more than fair with his rates and beyond patient with me. I’m naturally a confident person, but it never hurts to get reassurance from someone as accomplished as Rick and that’s exactly what he provided at any time of frustration or struggling moment. I call Rick, the “Michael Jordan of music teachers” because he is by far the best! After all the hard work and commitment, I’m proud to say, my wife could not believe it was me playing the saxophone as she walked down the aisle. And 6 weeks later, she’s still in shock. I couldn’t wait to get back to LA to share the moment with Rick & to finally be able to introduce him to my wife. That day, plus my 9 months with Rick, will be memories I’ll cherish forever and I’m so grateful for it all. Thank you Rick for making a dream come true for my wife and I. You’ll forever have a special place in our hearts & I can’t wait to tell our future children about how Daddy re-learned how to play the saxophone for Mommy for our wedding and all about the Michael Jordan of Music Teachers!
Mary Griffith - 09-26-19
Guitar - In Home
I've been taking In Home guitar lessons with Robert for about 8 months now. He's talented, knowledgable, PATIENT (especially when I'm not patient with myself) and punctual. I wanted to get better at playing guitar and have come away with the beginnings of an understanding of the instrument and music theory that will inform whatever direction my lessons take me. Robert is an exceptional teacher.
Adriana Wunder 8-20 19
Guitar and Voice Lessons - Studio
I began learning piano at Los Angeles Music Teachers three years ago and then continued on with guitar and voice. After trying music lessons at several local businesses, I can easily say hands down this is the best experience I've had! Everything from the way Rick handled my inquiry on the phone to the follow up and making sure I had the right teacher...I didn't have to worry about a thing! And I absolutely love my teacher. Max really takes the time to get to know each student so he can tailor his lessons to their learning styles and interests. I am now comfortable on all three instruments and can also play and sing at the same time! I have been able to overcome my greatest fears and make performing in public fun. Learning music with Los Angeles Music Teachers has been truly life changing!!
David
Piano, Guitar, Voice Lessons - In Studio
I reached out to Los Angeles Music Teachers because I wanted to improve on my instrumentation and song writing. I'm currently taking piano, guitar and voice lessons at Los Angeles Music Teachers and my teacher Max is helping me with my song writing. He is multi talented and so knowledgeable about what it takes be successful in the real world of music. I take Lessons at the Burbank location and love that there’s not a lot of noisy lessons going on at the same time during my lessons like there were at my previous piano school. If you’re a singer songwriter like myself you’ll love Max! I highly recommend Music lessons with him if you're looking to improve your skills like I am.
Robert Petre
Saxophone - Studio
Rick is thoughtful, caring and gentle. The lessons I took with Rick Rossi helped me become a solid improvisor/soloist at an incredibly fast rate. Truly an amazing musical experience!
I would highly recommend Rick Rossi as a saxophone teacher. Rich has a system that really works . I feel truly lucky and grateful to have Rick as my teacher. Rick is an AMAZING sax teacher.
Julie Hale
Violin Lessons- In Home
I wanted to pick back up playing the violin, but since I hadn't played since high school, I knew I would be starting from scratch. I called Rick at LA Music Teachers who connected me right away with a teacher and had me starting the very next week! I am now 10 months in, and still really enjoying it. My teacher Xochitl (Zoe-Chee) is super talented, and super patient. She works a ton with children, but had no problem pivoting to a middle-aged adult. When she learned I had some music theory background, she made sure to always reinforce the lesson with the theory points behind it. She is very diligent about reinforcing the basics, that will create a strong foundation, but she allowed me to "free-style" with my own piece I was interested in playing, and included that piece in our lesson work. And while I'm sure she would love it if I had more time to practice, she never makes me feel bad about my level of progress or having to go back over things. Highly recommend!!
Angie Crosthwait
Saxophone Lessons - at Burbank studio
I found Rick online and sit on all saxophone lessons so I know exactly what's going on. I was amazed at how fast my son was able to learn not only to play and develop a great sound but also to improvise. After a few lessons, I could tell Rick's approach and method of teaching is so unique. His system really works!
We are beyond happy to see how our son improved and gained confidence playing his saxophone in just a few weeks. He is only 12 years old and is now continuing with jazz exercises. He enjoys the chance to pick a song to play along with his instrument under Rick's guidance. For someone with his long resume, Rick is very friendly, kind, down to earth, and passionate about teaching. Obviously, he loves to teach and truly cares about his students progress. We are so grateful to have found Rick as our son's saxophone teacher. We highly recommend him!
Sara Richland
Clarinet Lessons
We feel so lucky to have found Rick to teach our son to play the clarinet! We can't believe how much he has learned in such a short time, with Rick's guidance. Rick is thoughtful, caring and gentle, but always presents our son with enough challenges to keep him stimulated and eager to make progress. Our son loves him. I can't say enough good things about Rick as a music teacher. Thank you, Rick!
T Polce
Saxophone Lessons - Burbank Studio
My son is 12 years old and a beginning saxophone player. Rick has been giving him lessons in Burbank for about a few months. His progress has been steady and he has been really enjoying the lessons. Rick is laid back, committed and professional. I make my living as a musician and I couldn't be happier with Rick's approach to teaching.
Ben Lutes
Saxophone - Jazz Improvisation
When I started playing the saxophone I knew I needed to improve my jazz improvisation. The lessons I took with Rick Rossi helped me become a solid improvisor/soloist at an incredibly fast rate.
His system for improvisation is easy to understand and makes for truly amazing jazz solos with the right practice. I had moments where I couldn't believe the music I was making because of how fast the system works.
Truly an amazing musical experience!
Alec Guinness
Saxophone - Jazz Improvisation
I've been playing and teaching saxophone in L.A. for years. The way we teach improvisation leaves a lot to be desired. I heard about Rick's methods and decided to start from scratch with him.
Rich has a system that really works. It's not just using the blues scale like so many other teachers, but it's really teaching sax students how to learn how to play professional phrases and hear and hit all the chord changes without thinking about what you're doing. That's the important part.... I see so many sax players staring down at their music when they solo. They are desperate to hit every chord and their music sounds like it. Rick's method teaches the student how to hit all the chords without having to do complex calculations, allowing for a more natural and exciting improvisation.
Patrick Anderson
Clarinet Lessons - Burbank studio
My son is (9) years old and a beginning clarinet student. Rick Rossi has been giving him lessons in Burbank for a little over a year now and I highly recommend him. Rick is a great teacher: he combines deep expertise in music with the calm, friendly patience that is so essential in a music teacher (especially one who teaches elementary school kids). He notices the little things that are important to catch and correct early on, but is also aware that learning music can and should be an enjoyable experience. My son has made an amazing amount of progress in a short amount of time with Rick’s help. I wish he had been my teacher when I was a kid! As a bonus, he is also responsive and easy to communicate with.
Bruce Halpern
Saxophone Lessons - Jazz Improvisation - Burbank studio
I would highly recommend Rick Rossi as a saxophone teacher. I drive 1 hour or more in heavy traffic to get to his studio in Burbank and I never have a second thought about finding a teacher closer to my house, and for good reason.
I have never played saxophone growing up, but when I grew older my interest in playing got to a level where I decided to look for a teacher. I looked at his site and it seemed interesting, so I thought I would give him a try. I have been playing for about a year now, and am improvising already. Unheard of! He is an amazing musician and has played and studied with the best, but what is the most important attribute he has that makes him the best is that he is a true teacher of music. He prides himself by seeing the success of his students. He is patient, very encouraging, and he pushes you at the same time. I am an elementary school teacher and know what makes a quality teacher. His technique of teaching is, what we like to call in my profession, “scaffolded.” This means that his teaching uses baby steps in order to eventually master the technique. This eliminates the gaps in learning that so many of us have experienced. This highly proven method is effective for all ages and levels. Not just beginners. As you can see from other viewers that have many years of experience, he is also highly effective. His improvisation technique is easy to understand and it’s amazing how fast you learn. His persistence of good sound is second to none. It’s not about just playing the correct notes. It’s all about the sound.
Jean Elysee
Saxophone Lessons - Online
I always wanted to learn to play the saxophone. For more than a year, I was trying learning on my own from YouTube instructional videos and from several how-to books to no avail. Confused and overwhelmed with so many different views and opinions, I was not progressing and at the same time acquiring many bad habits that were very detrimental to my learning the instrument that I love so much. After searching and talking to several online saxophone instructors, I decided to take lessons online with Rick Rossi. He took his time to assess my need and created a teaching approach for my quick and steady progress. Within a month of taking lessons with Rick, my sound has gotten impressively awesome. I was surprised with my progress within such a short period. My family and friends, even my neighbors, have told me how great I now sound when I play the saxophone. Rick is very patient and very knowledgeable. He takes his time to make you understand the techniques and skills necessary to become an awesome saxophone player. Anyone who is very serious about learning or wanting to become a better saxophone player should take lessons with Rick Rossi. Like me, you will be forever grateful you made that decision.
Bobby - Online Lessons
Jan 15, 2018
Saxophone
Rick was professional, intuitive, and taught what I needed to learn, and NOT some preplanned generic lesson. I highly recommend him and I rarely recommend anything.
Ken
Mar 16, 2017
Saxophone · Online lessons
Rick is my best music teacher I had so far!!!
Mike Rothman
Feb 20, 2017
Saxophone · Online
I'm a senior citizen without a shred of innate musical talent. LOL The idea of being able to improvise the blues on a saxophone was a wild and unattainable fantasy….until I met Rick. I had already checked out lots of other jazz saxophone teachers online so I knew within the first few lessons that Rick was unique. He was able to simplify my problems and help me make great progress right away. With enthusiasm, this celebrated musician took me through all the baby steps - first to get a respectable sound, and then through his ingenious system of improvisation. I'm moving at what I would say is warp speed in learning to improvise, already reaching levels of soloing that were only in my dreams. But the real bonus on top of Rick's fantastic teaching method and system is Rick the man, and the relationship this star musician forms with a student. His humility amazes me at every lesson. Knowing how valuable his time must be, the fact that he encourages me to send recordings between lessons, and sends feedback on each one, is testament to how much he truly cares about a student's progress. It's a gift he generously gives. He is also a genius at how much criticism and how much encouragement a particular student needs. Could there possibly be a better teacher than Rick Rossi? I don't think so.
Kevin
Oct 3, 2016
Saxophone · In studio
I am saxophone player at an intermediate to advanced level and Rick’s lessons helped my sound and improvisation tremendously in a very short amount of time. What really sets Rick apart is that his method is unlike any other teacher I've studied with I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn how to improvise better. Let me start from the beginning.
I’ve been playing music for the past 15 years. I’ve taken lessons in drums, clarinet, and piano, while self-teaching myself piano, guitar, and bass guitar. Through the years though, I always had a desire to learn the saxophone. Never truly playing a solo instrument with jazz improvisation at its core, I started my quest for a teacher who could teach me how to improvise. I bounced around several local music shops and music conservatories, looking for a teacher that could unlock the mystery of improvisation, but I was subjected to hours upon hours of method books without ever actually being given the chance to start improvising over jazz standards. Of course, the basics are essential when improvising, but I always found myself over thinking things. I took a break for a few months, but when I was approached by my family to play saxophone for my grandparent’s 50th anniversary celebration of over 200 people, I decided that I needed to find a teacher who actually adjusted his lessons based on his student and their interests, rather than a cookie cutter lesson progression. During the first few lessons with Rick, he said that instead of focusing on the specific fingerings on the sax or the specific scales and notes I had to be playing, to really listen to the beauty of the music and just play what I hear in my head. Once I got comfortable and stopped thinking about what the “right” notes were, I stopped thinking and just played. A wall that I’ve tried to overcome for the past 5 years, was finally behind me after only a few lessons. After I got past my own thinking, Rick gave me very simple but effective methods to incorporate into my playing to create a more cohesive solo with stylistic tricks and motifs to really impress the crowd and love what you’re playing. I can without reservation, having studied with some of the top saxophone teachers/players in the Los Angeles/Orange County area, say that Rick changed my saxophone playing life and truly has the secrets to improvising on the saxophone. On top of that, even though he is a Grammy award winning artist, is one of the most humble people I’ve ever met. He is always so willing to impart knowledge from his immense amount of experience but never makes you feel like he is looking down on you or is frustrated with you. He teaches because he loves to do it, and to see his student’s eyes light up when they play their first improvised solo on saxophone, is the very reason he teaches so selflessly. That is what stood out the most to me.
Joshua
Sep 23, 2016
Saxophone · In studio
What a difference! Like night & day. Josh is going to survive his first performance of the year thanks to Rick! Looking forward to next week.
Elad S.
Sep 17, 2016
Saxophone · In studio
I've been taking lessons with Rick Rossi for a few years now, both through Skype and face to face. He is a true professional, extremely knowledgeable, and cares deeply about his students and teaching.
He has a unique approach to learning improvisation which is as appropriate for veteran players as it is for complete beginners, and he has been a tremendous help for me in terms of technique and improving my sound.
In an era where a lot of great players can't teach, where so many teachers take a dogmatic, cookie-cutter approach, Rick Rossi's student-centered style stands out. He is serious about your learning, he doesn't try to sugarcoat or shortcut anything and gives more if you're willing to, like giving you honest progress feedback on recordings you send him, and working on particular solos and stylistic issues (bop, blues, rock, smooth jazz, pop, etc) that are individually useful and relevant to your level and goals. I'm really grateful to have found a teacher like Rick Rossi in LA.
Holly
Aug 4, 2016
Saxophone · In studio
I am a teacher in the LAUSD and I know a good teacher when I encounter one. Rick is unbelievable. After his first sax lesson with Rick, my son’s tone was so rich, full, and bright. He made more progress in that first lesson than he had after months with his previous teacher. Rick has developed a system to teach his students how to improvise. My son now is able to solo at such a high level. He plays in the Jazz Ensemble at his school and the band director now refers to him as a “Monster.” The best thing about Rick is that he gets excited when he sees the growth and progress in my son. He loves to see him succeed and that’s why he works so hard to find the most direct and effective way to bring out the best in his students. I know how challenging teaching can be. Rick is one of a kind and his students are very fortunate to have him!
Jimmy
Jul 11, 2016
Music Performance · In studio
Rick is a fantastic improv and just overall music teacher. As a professional guitar player I have found Rick's deep understanding of both music and the art of teaching to prove most valuable. His methodical approach taught me not only what kind of notes to choose from, but how to use my ear to decide how I want to play. I would highly recommend Rick's method for any instrument at any level!
Ken C.
Apr 2, 2016
Saxophone · In home
Rick really helps me understanding the concepts of the saxophone.
Abby S.
Mar 4, 2016
Saxophone · Online
Rick made my daughter feel comfortable and at ease, in spite of her performance anxiety. He took his time and did not rush (even went over time to finish) and my daughter learned new things the very first lesson. Very excited to see how lessons progress! Thank you!
YUKI
Sep 9, 2015
Saxophone · In studio
Rick is a great saxophone and jazz improvisation teacher. I started with him from scratch a year ago. In just a couple lessons he helped me get a good sound and all my basics happening. He has a lot of experience teaching; it really shows in how clearly he is able to explain how each thing we work on works and how to practice it. I always leave each lesson with recordings of him discussing exactly what I’m supposed to work on for the week along with examples he plays on his sax for me to follow. He really cares about my success and progress each week. In fact, he coaxes me to send him recordings every night while I’m practicing so that he can help me if I’m getting something wrong or to give me the confidence of knowing that I’m doing it right or some suggestions on how I can improve it. In other words, I can get feedback every time I need it if I send a recording. That’s helped me avoid a lot of wasted time. I’m progressing so fast and I really have fun at my lessons. I joined "The Big Phat Band" Band Camp this summer and had the best experience of my life playing in the band. Rick helped me in so many ways to prepare for that and it's made me inspired to practice even more. I highly recommend taking a lesson and see for yourself what an outstanding saxophone teacher he is.
Patrick J.
Sep 2, 2015
Saxophone · In studio
Had a great first lesson! Boosted my sound 30% within the first hour! Great tips and very friendly!
Jonathan
Aug 20, 2015
Saxophone · In studio
I’ve been a working musician and composer in Los Angeles for the last 20 years. I’ve also spent a good deal of that time teaching piano, so I feel like I have a pretty good handle on what makes a good music teacher. Still, when I had to find a sax teacher for my son, it wasn’t easy. I knew some really great players, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be good teachers. Luckily, I found Rick. In addition to being an amazing saxophone, flute and clarinet player, he’s an unbelievable teacher. In the first lesson, he did more for my son’s tone than months of lessons had with our previous teacher. He also has his own method of teaching jazz improvisation and it really is amazing. My son is improvising at a really high level and keeps getting better all the time. Rick really gets involved with my son’s progress and he truly gets excited when he excels. The truth is no one deserves a teacher like Rick-you can only hope to get really lucky to find a teacher this good.
Alex
Aug 12, 2015
Saxophone · In studio
I first started taking lessons with Rick Rossi at the age of 12. I came in and knew little about music but Rick was a great teacher. He used easily absorbable methods about things that other musicians have trouble explaining. It was soon very clear to me that Rick Rossi was an exceptional musician. He could play funky jazz lines, and transition to beautiful classical melodies and play them with such ease and fluidity. It wasn’t until that I had taken some lessons with other teachers that I knew what I had in my life. Rick is a masterful jazz improviser, and I had learned the secrets of a pro’s pro. His methods gave me an edge over the other musicians in my school jazz band. The teachers noticed it and gave me lots of soloing. I was soon able to play chord changes shortly after. The “Rick Rossi” method breaks down a lot of the questions people have about what types of techniques saxophonists use when they solo. Using Rick Rossi’s method has opened lots of doors for me musically. As a result I have played in numerous bands and as soon as Rick thought I was ready he hired me to play in his bands. He is an exceptional musician with tons of experience under his belt. He has played with numerous big-name musicians in the industry. Not only does he teach and play music, he runs his own music agency called Rossi Music that hires and books some of the best musicians in the Los Angeles music scene. His teaching has helped me to become more aware of what it takes to be a professional musician in the real world of the Los Angeles music scene.
Daniel
Aug 8, 2015
Saxophone · Online
After years of taking saxophone lessons from the so called "great teachers" in Los Angeles I was really frustrated with my progress or lack of progress. Luckily I found Rick. In only a couple of months with Rick I was improvising at a level that I couldn’t even believe was possible. He has a system that is amazing and incredibly simple to learn and to apply to all the songs I love to play.
If you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced player, Rick can elevate your playing faster than you can imagine. I can't recommend him highly enough. Rick's and his system are simply incredible.
Manoela W.
Aug 10, 2015
Saxophone · In studio
I’m a classically trained violinist and I perform many different styles of music as a freelancer in Los Angeles, however I wasn’t a very confident improviser until I started studying with Rick. It always felt like I was shooting in the dark because I had no idea how to play within the chord changes, I was just relying on my ears. Rick has a very simple system that takes you step by step so it feels very manageable to learn and you feel like you’re constantly improving. It made sense from the very beginning and I started improvising with more control and confidence right away by applying his method to my solos. Rick is a world class musician and his knowledge of improvisation and jazz/blues is inspiring and very impressive. He has also played with so many huge acts and done virtually every kind of gig so he taught me a lot of practical advice that’s helped me get work and get hired again. I owe a lot of my success to Rick, and I cannot recommend him enough as a teacher and mentor!
Rick’s main instrument is saxophone and he teaches amazing jazz improvisation lessons so for anyone who wants to learn how to improvise, there’s no better teacher. If you want jazz sax lessons, I’ve heard some of his students and they are amazing players in a short amount of time. You would be wise to at least check him out for yourself.
Danny
Aug 7, 2015
Saxophone · Online
I have been playing the saxophone for 26 years. After 15 years of lessons with other teachers I became a student of Rick's and have stayed with Rick ever since. I had been taking lessons from tremendous players - all of them pro's in the Los Angeles area - but in those 15 years none of them were able to have an impact on my playing like Rick. Through Rick's structured and organized "program", I learned to play the contemporary jazz and pop music that I first drew me to the saxophone - both melodies and solos!
For the first 8 years I took lessons out of Rick's house. I have since moved to Florida and have been taking lessons with Rick online for the past 2 years. What's incredible about Rick's plan is that his online instruction is equally as effective as taking classes in his house and my playing continues to improve at a rapid pace. I would strongly encourage anyone who is serious about learning to play hip, soulful and groovin' music to get in touch Rick and get started on his plan. My one regret is not starting with Rick sooner!
Maggie Verdin
1 week ago
Teacher David is the greatest with my 3 yr old son. My son looks forward to class on a weekly basis. David meets my son where he’s at! There are days when my son has a 3 minute attention span, and other days when he doesn’t want class to end. Regardless of my sons mood, teacher David is patient, and motivating. David goes above and beyond as he provides check-ins between classes and homework videos. My son is learning basics with regards to drumming, and has shown more interest in different beats, counting, and speeds. It has been about 2.5 months since he started and he has not lost motivation. We are pleased with his instruction!
Cavin Mohrhardt
3 weeks ago
Both the school and teacher they paired me with (Lainey White) were extremely professional and amazing to work with. The only reason I had to stop taking from them is my own personal time commitments. They were easy to get a hold of and reschedule if I had a conflict come up last minute, and even went above and beyond when we had a billing issue that caused me to be overcharged. They immediately corrected the error and put me at ease. I couldn't recommended them enough!
Ronnie Rios
12 weeks ago
What a great experience with the crew at Los Angeles Music Teachers - Burbank on Sunset. Friendly, professional and zero pressure. Big thumbs up. I went directly there to buy my daughter's keyboard after reading the spotty feedback on Guitar Center across the street.
Carolyn Rasske
16 weeks ago
I had a great time learning the cello with Gvantsa. Having never played a string instrument and not being able to read music, she was so patient with me and gave great instruction. Communication from Rick was quick and professional as well. I highly recommend classes here.
Michael Mora
47 weeks ago
Max's vast knowledge of music, experience and love for playing music makes him a highly qualified guitar teacher. His love for music is contagious and has inspired me to put more time into the practice routines he's suggested. Since taking guitar lessons with Max over the last few months, I have seen various areas of my playing improve, playing music finally feels real! He is experienced in many different genres of music as well. It does not matter if you are just starting or have been playing for years, Max will take your guitar playing to a whole new level. His patience separates him from the average guitar teacher, my expectations exceeded for sure! Max has made each lesson a personal experience and has done nothing but invests his time and energy to improve my playing, great tips and tricks for beginners. I recommend Max to any serious musician or someone who wants to test the waters like me and start to learn! Mike M.
Elora Krzanich
48 weeks ago
I look forward to my weekly piano lesson now more than ever. Having made the quick transition to Zoom, Max didn't miss a beat with our lessons! He's been great to take advantage of the features that help make learning easier. Screen sharing so that both of us are able to annotate the sheet music has been amazing! If I have a question about something, I can just circle it on screen so we can still have a discussion. I'm so glad to have this small sense of normalcy during all this. Thanks Max!!
Tayler Croft
48 weeks ago
I've always loved the violin. I went to my niece's music recital, and their school had an older gentleman who had been taking voice lessons and was brave enough to perform solo alongside the young students. The next day I Googled "music lessons in Los Angeles" and had a call out to Rick by the end of the business day. Rick immediately set me up with both a teacher (Xochitl) and a store for beginner violin rentals. I've been taking lessons from Xochitl for about 5 months now. Of course, it had to happen amidst the public health crisis, so I've had to switch to online classes. I wasn't sure this would be an effective way to learn violin, but honestly not much has changed. Xochitl is as fun as professional as ever, and I still feel my (limited) abilities growing despite not being face to face. I'm very grateful that I can continue my musical journey with Xochitl despite the quarantine. I am 32 with a highly stressful job, and I do not always have time to put in the practice that I should. However, Xochitl always finds something to praise, and never loses her patience with me. It is more appreciated than she probably knows - my piano teacher used to screech at me when I was young. Given that the violin is probably one of the most difficult instruments to play, I think it speaks volumes that in 5 months Xochitl has made it so engaging and accessible (particularly for an adult student like myself), that I went ahead and purchased one! I am looking forward to improving and highly recommend Rick and his team for anyone with even a shadow of a wish to play music.
David C. Kang
48 weeks ago
Maddie teaches flute to our 10-year old daughter, and is wonderful. She is patient and gentle, and willing to let our daughter learn the type of music she wants. But she provides energy and direction, and we have been totally happy with her. Our daughter looks forward to lessons with Maddie and we'll keep her as long as we can. The service is also very professional, very careful, and we have had excellent interactions with the logistics and paying part. I highly recommend this service. Truly wonderful experience with everything.
Joel Flynn
49 weeks ago
Bjorn has been our piano instructor to my 2 boys under 10 years old for the last few months and we are desperately missing our weekly sessions during this quarantine time. Bjorn is remarkably patient and creative at finding avenues of interest to keep my hyperactive boys engaged and progressing. Looking forward to getting back on track with Bjorn!
Juliana Grisales
49 weeks ago
I highly recommend Los Angeles Music Teachers. Their customer service and quality of classes is outstanding. Specially their voice teachers Maria and Danielle. I love taking classes with them. They are caring and love singing/teaching. They take time to ensure you have the right technique and the right songs for you to practice. They are both very personable and really nice people!
Nicole Gaitan
49 weeks ago
I have had a wonderful experience learning from LA Music Teachers. I have been taking violin lessons from Nori for about 5 months. As an adult student, it can be hard to find the time to consistently practice, but Nori has been such a wonderfully patient teacher when my weeks have gotten more hectic. Nori has non-traditionally broken down the basics of learning the violin and is incredibly patient. I highly recommend the one-on-one experience LA Music teachers has given me and for such a reasonable cost per session!
Minshu Zhan
52 weeks ago
I’m from New York and have been taking online classes with Rick since 5 months now. While looking for music teachers in NY, all teachers that I found wanted to teach me theory for the first 2-4 months since I had very little background in music. I’ve never been good at learning anything theoretically. I learn by practicing and doing rather than reading. This led me to start searching for teachers who were willing to give online lessons without starting with theory, that’s when I found Rick on Quora. Theory is undoubtedly important, but it’s even more important for a student to be interested in the classes. The interest for most comes from practical training rather than theory. Rick is the only teacher provides hands-on training from day 1. No fluff. And he shows you proof before you even start. No other teachers show before and after of their students. His system just works! Today after just 5 months of training, I can play as good as someone who’s been trained for 3+ years. He’ll talk you into overcoming your psychological barriers and train your muscles till music is second nature to you.
Justin Davis
Nov 28, 2019
To say that Rick was a lifesaver for me, would be the biggest understatement ever! I stumbled across Rick just off of the first few results that came up after googling “Music Teachers in LA.” Well, as luck should have it, I got lucky! My goal & only reason for wanting to take saxophone lessons, was to be able to learn a particular song & be able to play it for my future wife as she walks down the aisle at our wedding. Oh, and this was going to be a complete surprise for my wife! So not only was I nervous about playing again, let alone at my wedding, but I also had to some how become the greatest liar of all time, to be able to sneak away twice a week to my lessons! Tall order right?? Not for Rick! After the first few sessions, not only did I start to gain confidence that I would be able to pull this miracle off, I truly believed that I would knock it out of the park! I had played the saxophone before when I was a kid, but hadn’t picked one up in 20 years. I gave myself & Rick 9 months to get this done and I was ready for the big day by month 7! We used the final two months as a tune up (no pun intended) period, to make sure we had all of our T’s crossed & I’s dotted. Throughout my 9 months with Rick, he was extremely accommodating with my ever changing schedule, more than fair with his rates and beyond patient with me. I’m naturally a confident person, but it never hurts to get reassurance from someone as accomplished as Rick and that’s exactly what he provided at any time of frustration or struggling moment. I call Rick, the “Michael Jordan of music teachers” because he is by far the best! After all the hard work and commitment, I’m proud to say, my wife could not believe it was me playing the saxophone as she walked down the aisle. And 6 weeks later, she’s still in shock. I couldn’t wait to get back to LA to share the moment with Rick & to finally be able to introduce him to my wife. That day, plus my 9 months with Rick, will be memories I’ll cherish forever and I’m so grateful for it all. Thank you Rick for making a dream come true for my wife and I. You’ll forever have a special place in our hearts & I can’t wait to tell our future children about how Daddy re-learned how to play the saxophone for Mommy for our wedding and all about the Michael Jordan of Music Teachers!
Mary Griffith - 09-26-19
Guitar - In Home
I've been taking In Home guitar lessons with Robert for about 8 months now. He's talented, knowledgable, PATIENT (especially when I'm not patient with myself) and punctual. I wanted to get better at playing guitar and have come away with the beginnings of an understanding of the instrument and music theory that will inform whatever direction my lessons take me. Robert is an exceptional teacher.
Adriana Wunder 8-20 19
Guitar and Voice Lessons - Studio
I began learning piano at Los Angeles Music Teachers three years ago and then continued on with guitar and voice. After trying music lessons at several local businesses, I can easily say hands down this is the best experience I've had! Everything from the way Rick handled my inquiry on the phone to the follow up and making sure I had the right teacher...I didn't have to worry about a thing! And I absolutely love my teacher. Max really takes the time to get to know each student so he can tailor his lessons to their learning styles and interests. I am now comfortable on all three instruments and can also play and sing at the same time! I have been able to overcome my greatest fears and make performing in public fun. Learning music with Los Angeles Music Teachers has been truly life changing!!
David
Piano, Guitar, Voice Lessons - In Studio
I reached out to Los Angeles Music Teachers because I wanted to improve on my instrumentation and song writing. I'm currently taking piano, guitar and voice lessons at Los Angeles Music Teachers and my teacher Max is helping me with my song writing. He is multi talented and so knowledgeable about what it takes be successful in the real world of music. I take Lessons at the Burbank location and love that there’s not a lot of noisy lessons going on at the same time during my lessons like there were at my previous piano school. If you’re a singer songwriter like myself you’ll love Max! I highly recommend Music lessons with him if you're looking to improve your skills like I am.
Robert Petre
Saxophone - Studio
Rick is thoughtful, caring and gentle. The lessons I took with Rick Rossi helped me become a solid improvisor/soloist at an incredibly fast rate. Truly an amazing musical experience!
I would highly recommend Rick Rossi as a saxophone teacher. Rich has a system that really works . I feel truly lucky and grateful to have Rick as my teacher. Rick is an AMAZING sax teacher.
Julie Hale
Violin Lessons- In Home
I wanted to pick back up playing the violin, but since I hadn't played since high school, I knew I would be starting from scratch. I called Rick at LA Music Teachers who connected me right away with a teacher and had me starting the very next week! I am now 10 months in, and still really enjoying it. My teacher Xochitl (Zoe-Chee) is super talented, and super patient. She works a ton with children, but had no problem pivoting to a middle-aged adult. When she learned I had some music theory background, she made sure to always reinforce the lesson with the theory points behind it. She is very diligent about reinforcing the basics, that will create a strong foundation, but she allowed me to "free-style" with my own piece I was interested in playing, and included that piece in our lesson work. And while I'm sure she would love it if I had more time to practice, she never makes me feel bad about my level of progress or having to go back over things. Highly recommend!!
Angie Crosthwait
Saxophone Lessons - at Burbank studio
I found Rick online and sit on all saxophone lessons so I know exactly what's going on. I was amazed at how fast my son was able to learn not only to play and develop a great sound but also to improvise. After a few lessons, I could tell Rick's approach and method of teaching is so unique. His system really works!
We are beyond happy to see how our son improved and gained confidence playing his saxophone in just a few weeks. He is only 12 years old and is now continuing with jazz exercises. He enjoys the chance to pick a song to play along with his instrument under Rick's guidance. For someone with his long resume, Rick is very friendly, kind, down to earth, and passionate about teaching. Obviously, he loves to teach and truly cares about his students progress. We are so grateful to have found Rick as our son's saxophone teacher. We highly recommend him!
Sara Richland
Clarinet Lessons
We feel so lucky to have found Rick to teach our son to play the clarinet! We can't believe how much he has learned in such a short time, with Rick's guidance. Rick is thoughtful, caring and gentle, but always presents our son with enough challenges to keep him stimulated and eager to make progress. Our son loves him. I can't say enough good things about Rick as a music teacher. Thank you, Rick!
T Polce
Saxophone Lessons - Burbank Studio
My son is 12 years old and a beginning saxophone player. Rick has been giving him lessons in Burbank for about a few months. His progress has been steady and he has been really enjoying the lessons. Rick is laid back, committed and professional. I make my living as a musician and I couldn't be happier with Rick's approach to teaching.
Ben Lutes
Saxophone - Jazz Improvisation
When I started playing the saxophone I knew I needed to improve my jazz improvisation. The lessons I took with Rick Rossi helped me become a solid improvisor/soloist at an incredibly fast rate.
His system for improvisation is easy to understand and makes for truly amazing jazz solos with the right practice. I had moments where I couldn't believe the music I was making because of how fast the system works.
Truly an amazing musical experience!
Alec Guinness
Saxophone - Jazz Improvisation
I've been playing and teaching saxophone in L.A. for years. The way we teach improvisation leaves a lot to be desired. I heard about Rick's methods and decided to start from scratch with him.
Rich has a system that really works. It's not just using the blues scale like so many other teachers, but it's really teaching sax students how to learn how to play professional phrases and hear and hit all the chord changes without thinking about what you're doing. That's the important part.... I see so many sax players staring down at their music when they solo. They are desperate to hit every chord and their music sounds like it. Rick's method teaches the student how to hit all the chords without having to do complex calculations, allowing for a more natural and exciting improvisation.
Patrick Anderson
Clarinet Lessons - Burbank studio
My son is (9) years old and a beginning clarinet student. Rick Rossi has been giving him lessons in Burbank for a little over a year now and I highly recommend him. Rick is a great teacher: he combines deep expertise in music with the calm, friendly patience that is so essential in a music teacher (especially one who teaches elementary school kids). He notices the little things that are important to catch and correct early on, but is also aware that learning music can and should be an enjoyable experience. My son has made an amazing amount of progress in a short amount of time with Rick’s help. I wish he had been my teacher when I was a kid! As a bonus, he is also responsive and easy to communicate with.
Bruce Halpern
Saxophone Lessons - Jazz Improvisation - Burbank studio
I would highly recommend Rick Rossi as a saxophone teacher. I drive 1 hour or more in heavy traffic to get to his studio in Burbank and I never have a second thought about finding a teacher closer to my house, and for good reason.
I have never played saxophone growing up, but when I grew older my interest in playing got to a level where I decided to look for a teacher. I looked at his site and it seemed interesting, so I thought I would give him a try. I have been playing for about a year now, and am improvising already. Unheard of! He is an amazing musician and has played and studied with the best, but what is the most important attribute he has that makes him the best is that he is a true teacher of music. He prides himself by seeing the success of his students. He is patient, very encouraging, and he pushes you at the same time. I am an elementary school teacher and know what makes a quality teacher. His technique of teaching is, what we like to call in my profession, “scaffolded.” This means that his teaching uses baby steps in order to eventually master the technique. This eliminates the gaps in learning that so many of us have experienced. This highly proven method is effective for all ages and levels. Not just beginners. As you can see from other viewers that have many years of experience, he is also highly effective. His improvisation technique is easy to understand and it’s amazing how fast you learn. His persistence of good sound is second to none. It’s not about just playing the correct notes. It’s all about the sound.
Jean Elysee
Saxophone Lessons - Online
I always wanted to learn to play the saxophone. For more than a year, I was trying learning on my own from YouTube instructional videos and from several how-to books to no avail. Confused and overwhelmed with so many different views and opinions, I was not progressing and at the same time acquiring many bad habits that were very detrimental to my learning the instrument that I love so much. After searching and talking to several online saxophone instructors, I decided to take lessons online with Rick Rossi. He took his time to assess my need and created a teaching approach for my quick and steady progress. Within a month of taking lessons with Rick, my sound has gotten impressively awesome. I was surprised with my progress within such a short period. My family and friends, even my neighbors, have told me how great I now sound when I play the saxophone. Rick is very patient and very knowledgeable. He takes his time to make you understand the techniques and skills necessary to become an awesome saxophone player. Anyone who is very serious about learning or wanting to become a better saxophone player should take lessons with Rick Rossi. Like me, you will be forever grateful you made that decision.
Bobby - Online Lessons
Jan 15, 2018
Saxophone
Rick was professional, intuitive, and taught what I needed to learn, and NOT some preplanned generic lesson. I highly recommend him and I rarely recommend anything.
Ken
Mar 16, 2017
Saxophone · Online lessons
Rick is my best music teacher I had so far!!!
Mike Rothman
Feb 20, 2017
Saxophone · Online
I'm a senior citizen without a shred of innate musical talent. LOL The idea of being able to improvise the blues on a saxophone was a wild and unattainable fantasy….until I met Rick. I had already checked out lots of other jazz saxophone teachers online so I knew within the first few lessons that Rick was unique. He was able to simplify my problems and help me make great progress right away. With enthusiasm, this celebrated musician took me through all the baby steps - first to get a respectable sound, and then through his ingenious system of improvisation. I'm moving at what I would say is warp speed in learning to improvise, already reaching levels of soloing that were only in my dreams. But the real bonus on top of Rick's fantastic teaching method and system is Rick the man, and the relationship this star musician forms with a student. His humility amazes me at every lesson. Knowing how valuable his time must be, the fact that he encourages me to send recordings between lessons, and sends feedback on each one, is testament to how much he truly cares about a student's progress. It's a gift he generously gives. He is also a genius at how much criticism and how much encouragement a particular student needs. Could there possibly be a better teacher than Rick Rossi? I don't think so.
Kevin
Oct 3, 2016
Saxophone · In studio
I am saxophone player at an intermediate to advanced level and Rick’s lessons helped my sound and improvisation tremendously in a very short amount of time. What really sets Rick apart is that his method is unlike any other teacher I've studied with I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn how to improvise better. Let me start from the beginning.
I’ve been playing music for the past 15 years. I’ve taken lessons in drums, clarinet, and piano, while self-teaching myself piano, guitar, and bass guitar. Through the years though, I always had a desire to learn the saxophone. Never truly playing a solo instrument with jazz improvisation at its core, I started my quest for a teacher who could teach me how to improvise. I bounced around several local music shops and music conservatories, looking for a teacher that could unlock the mystery of improvisation, but I was subjected to hours upon hours of method books without ever actually being given the chance to start improvising over jazz standards. Of course, the basics are essential when improvising, but I always found myself over thinking things. I took a break for a few months, but when I was approached by my family to play saxophone for my grandparent’s 50th anniversary celebration of over 200 people, I decided that I needed to find a teacher who actually adjusted his lessons based on his student and their interests, rather than a cookie cutter lesson progression. During the first few lessons with Rick, he said that instead of focusing on the specific fingerings on the sax or the specific scales and notes I had to be playing, to really listen to the beauty of the music and just play what I hear in my head. Once I got comfortable and stopped thinking about what the “right” notes were, I stopped thinking and just played. A wall that I’ve tried to overcome for the past 5 years, was finally behind me after only a few lessons. After I got past my own thinking, Rick gave me very simple but effective methods to incorporate into my playing to create a more cohesive solo with stylistic tricks and motifs to really impress the crowd and love what you’re playing. I can without reservation, having studied with some of the top saxophone teachers/players in the Los Angeles/Orange County area, say that Rick changed my saxophone playing life and truly has the secrets to improvising on the saxophone. On top of that, even though he is a Grammy award winning artist, is one of the most humble people I’ve ever met. He is always so willing to impart knowledge from his immense amount of experience but never makes you feel like he is looking down on you or is frustrated with you. He teaches because he loves to do it, and to see his student’s eyes light up when they play their first improvised solo on saxophone, is the very reason he teaches so selflessly. That is what stood out the most to me.
Joshua
Sep 23, 2016
Saxophone · In studio
What a difference! Like night & day. Josh is going to survive his first performance of the year thanks to Rick! Looking forward to next week.
Elad S.
Sep 17, 2016
Saxophone · In studio
I've been taking lessons with Rick Rossi for a few years now, both through Skype and face to face. He is a true professional, extremely knowledgeable, and cares deeply about his students and teaching.
He has a unique approach to learning improvisation which is as appropriate for veteran players as it is for complete beginners, and he has been a tremendous help for me in terms of technique and improving my sound.
In an era where a lot of great players can't teach, where so many teachers take a dogmatic, cookie-cutter approach, Rick Rossi's student-centered style stands out. He is serious about your learning, he doesn't try to sugarcoat or shortcut anything and gives more if you're willing to, like giving you honest progress feedback on recordings you send him, and working on particular solos and stylistic issues (bop, blues, rock, smooth jazz, pop, etc) that are individually useful and relevant to your level and goals. I'm really grateful to have found a teacher like Rick Rossi in LA.
Holly
Aug 4, 2016
Saxophone · In studio
I am a teacher in the LAUSD and I know a good teacher when I encounter one. Rick is unbelievable. After his first sax lesson with Rick, my son’s tone was so rich, full, and bright. He made more progress in that first lesson than he had after months with his previous teacher. Rick has developed a system to teach his students how to improvise. My son now is able to solo at such a high level. He plays in the Jazz Ensemble at his school and the band director now refers to him as a “Monster.” The best thing about Rick is that he gets excited when he sees the growth and progress in my son. He loves to see him succeed and that’s why he works so hard to find the most direct and effective way to bring out the best in his students. I know how challenging teaching can be. Rick is one of a kind and his students are very fortunate to have him!
Jimmy
Jul 11, 2016
Music Performance · In studio
Rick is a fantastic improv and just overall music teacher. As a professional guitar player I have found Rick's deep understanding of both music and the art of teaching to prove most valuable. His methodical approach taught me not only what kind of notes to choose from, but how to use my ear to decide how I want to play. I would highly recommend Rick's method for any instrument at any level!
Ken C.
Apr 2, 2016
Saxophone · In home
Rick really helps me understanding the concepts of the saxophone.
Abby S.
Mar 4, 2016
Saxophone · Online
Rick made my daughter feel comfortable and at ease, in spite of her performance anxiety. He took his time and did not rush (even went over time to finish) and my daughter learned new things the very first lesson. Very excited to see how lessons progress! Thank you!
YUKI
Sep 9, 2015
Saxophone · In studio
Rick is a great saxophone and jazz improvisation teacher. I started with him from scratch a year ago. In just a couple lessons he helped me get a good sound and all my basics happening. He has a lot of experience teaching; it really shows in how clearly he is able to explain how each thing we work on works and how to practice it. I always leave each lesson with recordings of him discussing exactly what I’m supposed to work on for the week along with examples he plays on his sax for me to follow. He really cares about my success and progress each week. In fact, he coaxes me to send him recordings every night while I’m practicing so that he can help me if I’m getting something wrong or to give me the confidence of knowing that I’m doing it right or some suggestions on how I can improve it. In other words, I can get feedback every time I need it if I send a recording. That’s helped me avoid a lot of wasted time. I’m progressing so fast and I really have fun at my lessons. I joined "The Big Phat Band" Band Camp this summer and had the best experience of my life playing in the band. Rick helped me in so many ways to prepare for that and it's made me inspired to practice even more. I highly recommend taking a lesson and see for yourself what an outstanding saxophone teacher he is.
Patrick J.
Sep 2, 2015
Saxophone · In studio
Had a great first lesson! Boosted my sound 30% within the first hour! Great tips and very friendly!
Jonathan
Aug 20, 2015
Saxophone · In studio
I’ve been a working musician and composer in Los Angeles for the last 20 years. I’ve also spent a good deal of that time teaching piano, so I feel like I have a pretty good handle on what makes a good music teacher. Still, when I had to find a sax teacher for my son, it wasn’t easy. I knew some really great players, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be good teachers. Luckily, I found Rick. In addition to being an amazing saxophone, flute and clarinet player, he’s an unbelievable teacher. In the first lesson, he did more for my son’s tone than months of lessons had with our previous teacher. He also has his own method of teaching jazz improvisation and it really is amazing. My son is improvising at a really high level and keeps getting better all the time. Rick really gets involved with my son’s progress and he truly gets excited when he excels. The truth is no one deserves a teacher like Rick-you can only hope to get really lucky to find a teacher this good.
Alex
Aug 12, 2015
Saxophone · In studio
I first started taking lessons with Rick Rossi at the age of 12. I came in and knew little about music but Rick was a great teacher. He used easily absorbable methods about things that other musicians have trouble explaining. It was soon very clear to me that Rick Rossi was an exceptional musician. He could play funky jazz lines, and transition to beautiful classical melodies and play them with such ease and fluidity. It wasn’t until that I had taken some lessons with other teachers that I knew what I had in my life. Rick is a masterful jazz improviser, and I had learned the secrets of a pro’s pro. His methods gave me an edge over the other musicians in my school jazz band. The teachers noticed it and gave me lots of soloing. I was soon able to play chord changes shortly after. The “Rick Rossi” method breaks down a lot of the questions people have about what types of techniques saxophonists use when they solo. Using Rick Rossi’s method has opened lots of doors for me musically. As a result I have played in numerous bands and as soon as Rick thought I was ready he hired me to play in his bands. He is an exceptional musician with tons of experience under his belt. He has played with numerous big-name musicians in the industry. Not only does he teach and play music, he runs his own music agency called Rossi Music that hires and books some of the best musicians in the Los Angeles music scene. His teaching has helped me to become more aware of what it takes to be a professional musician in the real world of the Los Angeles music scene.
Daniel
Aug 8, 2015
Saxophone · Online
After years of taking saxophone lessons from the so called "great teachers" in Los Angeles I was really frustrated with my progress or lack of progress. Luckily I found Rick. In only a couple of months with Rick I was improvising at a level that I couldn’t even believe was possible. He has a system that is amazing and incredibly simple to learn and to apply to all the songs I love to play.
If you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced player, Rick can elevate your playing faster than you can imagine. I can't recommend him highly enough. Rick's and his system are simply incredible.
Manoela W.
Aug 10, 2015
Saxophone · In studio
I’m a classically trained violinist and I perform many different styles of music as a freelancer in Los Angeles, however I wasn’t a very confident improviser until I started studying with Rick. It always felt like I was shooting in the dark because I had no idea how to play within the chord changes, I was just relying on my ears. Rick has a very simple system that takes you step by step so it feels very manageable to learn and you feel like you’re constantly improving. It made sense from the very beginning and I started improvising with more control and confidence right away by applying his method to my solos. Rick is a world class musician and his knowledge of improvisation and jazz/blues is inspiring and very impressive. He has also played with so many huge acts and done virtually every kind of gig so he taught me a lot of practical advice that’s helped me get work and get hired again. I owe a lot of my success to Rick, and I cannot recommend him enough as a teacher and mentor!
Rick’s main instrument is saxophone and he teaches amazing jazz improvisation lessons so for anyone who wants to learn how to improvise, there’s no better teacher. If you want jazz sax lessons, I’ve heard some of his students and they are amazing players in a short amount of time. You would be wise to at least check him out for yourself.
Danny
Aug 7, 2015
Saxophone · Online
I have been playing the saxophone for 26 years. After 15 years of lessons with other teachers I became a student of Rick's and have stayed with Rick ever since. I had been taking lessons from tremendous players - all of them pro's in the Los Angeles area - but in those 15 years none of them were able to have an impact on my playing like Rick. Through Rick's structured and organized "program", I learned to play the contemporary jazz and pop music that I first drew me to the saxophone - both melodies and solos!
For the first 8 years I took lessons out of Rick's house. I have since moved to Florida and have been taking lessons with Rick online for the past 2 years. What's incredible about Rick's plan is that his online instruction is equally as effective as taking classes in his house and my playing continues to improve at a rapid pace. I would strongly encourage anyone who is serious about learning to play hip, soulful and groovin' music to get in touch Rick and get started on his plan. My one regret is not starting with Rick sooner!
