John Payne Music Center

I started with zero musical background at the age of 52 (except a love of jazz) in 2000. With a wonderful teacher I learned to play tenor sax and have been in a jazz ensemble for 8 years. The teaching and coaching are amazing. The other amateur musicians in my group are motivated to improve their skills and work hard at it. The staff understands that none of us are spending 4 hours a day practicing-most of us have lots going on in our lives and they figure out how to make it work. I've made some real progress over the years. I can feel it and hear it.There really isn't another place in the area to play in jazz groups with professional coaching and also have semi-annual performances in a real jazz club! I've taken some big risks as I've learned to master the complexity of being a musician.
5 10 years ago (20-10-2015)

My 11 year old daughter started drum lessons with Mick Lewander last summer and she's still loving it. She has improved a lot, and it isn't even painful to listen to her practice! Mick is patient and very flexible both in terms of scheduling lessons and in terms of what he covers in lessons. If my daughter needs to work on something for the school band, he is happy to focus on that during her lesson, which is a big help. He also will sometimes do a "practice" lesson with her when she hasn't had a chance to practice. Very supportive teacher!
5 11 years ago (20-05-2014)

After a 35 year layoff, I picked up my high school trumpet again about 9 years ago. After practicing on my own for a year or so, I really wanted to play with other players of similar interests and abilities. When I mentioned this to a friend, she told me that “you have to go to John Payne”. And so I did. I have been with the same ensemble since. There have been a few changes of players over the years but the group has always been engaging, fun and supportive, and I look forward to playing each and every week. I started taking lessons about a year ago from Peter Kenagy, a brass teacher and trumpet player at the John Payne Music Center. I wanted to improve functionally – extend my range and stamina –and Peter has designed specific exercises I can work on to help me with that. He’s also challenged me to think more carefully about how I express my sound through the trumpet and how I want my sound to be perceived. The exercises he has developed for me are intended to improve the technical components of my playing in the context of my interest in playing jazz and improvising. I feel like I’ve come far with Peter’s direction and credit him with a significant improvement in my playing ability and enjoyment.
5 12 years ago (22-01-2014)

Nearing the age of 50, I decided to tackle a childhood dream of becoming John Coltrane and learning to play the sax. I started sax lessons with John Payne himself on a whim, not sure how long I would last. I'm a teacher myself, so I'm more than qualified to attest to the fact that John is a great teacher. More importantly for my own development, though, John is a lot of fun to work with. He's constantly challenging me but, at the same time, helping me to embrace my mistakes as a crucial part of the learning process. He's given me great music to play (classical duets, Jazz standards--no baby exercises) and has treated me like someone who just might, one day, get up on the stage and trade solos with Coltrane.
5 12 years ago (24-01-2014)

I am 17 years old and Tavonna Miller has been coaching me in voice. She has been helping me with sight reading and strategies to improve my singing. I like that she asks me what I want to work on and also gives me suggestions. She gives me breathing exercises and helpful warmups. When I sing a song she gives me specific things to focus on whether it be breathing, dynamics, or expression. The lessons are relaxed and fun but I am still learning a lot and improving my voice.
5 12 years ago (02-02-2014)