Sonya Jason teaches private lessons?!
Yes! Not only is Sonya a successful working professional musician, she is
willing and eager to pass on her knowledge and experience to YOU.
What instruments does she teach?
Saxophone, flute or clarinet -- you choose your favorite.
Does she accept beginners?
Yes! Beginners to Advanced students are welcomed. Ages 9 to 90. Anyone can
learn to play music, and Sonya is effective at communicating musical ideas to
all kinds of people.
What will I learn?
Your level of ability determines where you start. You will learn or improve basic
technique on your instrument so that you can play with a good sound, good
intonation and smooth fingering. You will learn to read music and play expressively
with clear articulation and dynamics. Your individual preference of musical
style will influence the choice of music books; how about classical duets by
famous composers, film soundtracks, Broadway musicals, the Beatles or Duke
Ellington? Many books include play-a-long CDs that make you sound great!
Do I need lessons if I'm in school band?
Private lessons will greatly enhance your school band experience and
contribute to your success. You will get the individual attention you need to improve
your technique. In addition, you may bring your band music to your lesson to
get special coaching on difficult songs and audition pieces.
The Band Director at Cunha Intermediate School says,
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"Students of mine who study with Sonya Jason consistently demonstrate an excellent grasp of
fundamentals such as articulation, embouchure, breathing and rhythm reading."
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| -- Maria Portello-Swagel, Band Director, Half Moon Bay CA |
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Do I have to do a recital?
No. Sonya likes to keep music fun and relaxed. At the end of each
twelve-week session you may invite guests (parents, siblings, grandparents, friends) to
come to your lesson and hear you play. It's your own private concert!
How much does it cost?
Beginning and Intermediate students pay $30 for a 30-minute weekly lesson.
Advanced students pay $60 for a 60-minute weekly lesson. Payments are made once
every twelve weeks on a tuition basis. An additional Registration and
Materials Fee of $30-$50 is due once a year and covers all music books and sheet music.
What days and times are available?
Lessons may be scheduled Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons between 3pm and 8pm.
You may choose the available time slot that is most convenient for you.
Where do I go for lessons?
Sonya teaches at her music studio located in Moss Beach, California, halfway between Pacifica and
Half Moon Bay (approximately 6 miles from either city).
What is Sonya Jason's educational background and teaching experience?
Sonya has studied privately with ten different music teachers, beginning
with nine years of classical piano lessons from the age of 4 and learning
saxophone from the age of 10. By the time she graduated from college majoring in
music performance and arranging, she had earned eighteen separate awards for
outstanding musicianship from such institutions as the International
Association for Jazz Education (IAJE).
She won the Phil Woods Scholarship to Berklee
College of Music in Boston, the top musical university in the country, and
graduated summa cum laude in 1985 after passing tough proficiency exams on saxophone,
flute, and clarinet. Sonya began teaching privately immediately upon graduation and was a staff instructor at Milano Music
in Scottsdale and Phoenix AZ, Killeen Music in Burbank CA, Santa Monica Music
in Santa Monica CA, and Manor Music in Pacifica CA. She has taught in the San
Francisco Bay Area since April 1999.
What is her teaching philosophy?
- Most people are not studying to become professional musicians; the point
of lessons is to enjoy learning to play music and gain a sense of
accomplishment.
- Mistakes are not bad; they simply indicate something to be learned.
- Consistency over time produces results.
How do I sign up?
Call Sonya Jason at (650) 563-9155 today!
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"Sonya brings her vast array of musical experience to provide a rock-solid foundation
for coaching her students through any type of music from classical to jazz to latin to rock.
And all in a personalized, fun and approachable style."
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| -- Alan, tenor saxophone, age 46 |
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"Sonya Jason is REALLY a great inspiration to young people such as my
daughter. I am so happy that Gabi loves(!) being taught by her."
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| -- Geraldine, mother of saxophone student |
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"I recommend Sonya because she's fun, and she gives insightful comments. I enjoy
learning new things and hearing about what I am doing wrong so I can fix it. She
pushes me to do my best!"
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| -- Hannah, alto saxophone, age 17 |
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"Every lesson I learn something new. It's always at my level, and I never
have to try anything too hard. I really like how Sonya gives me stuff out of
the technique book and also extra fun stuff. And I like her dog."
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| -- Lena, flute, age 10 |
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"Sonya is a very patient instructor who makes it fun and gives great
correction (repeatedly sometimes, as in my case!). Her approach is excellent!
One thing follows another and the skills seem to build effortlessly."
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| -- Martha, clarinet, age 56 |
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"It's nice to have some individual attention. I used to puff out my cheeks
a lot, but private lessons helped to fix that. It's really structured but
everything is not boring stuff; like there's movie music."
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| -- Miriam, clarinet, age 12 |
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"Fun! I started clarinet lessons with Sonya when I was 10. Then I switched
to flute, and now I'm learning tenor saxophone. She really helped my
sight-reading and technique for band, and with her help, I hope to be in jazz band next
year."
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| -- Esther, flute, age 14 |
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"Sonya makes it easy and quick to learn. She's great at teaching an older
person who has never been exposed to playing an instrument."
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| -- Marc, alto saxophone, age 53 |
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"Sonya knows how to relate to people
and get them to play better, and some good musicians just don't have that.
And she's a good musician, too. I've made progress understanding rhythms and
sharps and flats, and that's usually really hard. And her dog is cute."
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| -- Arwyn, clarinet, age 12 |
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"As an adult student, I appreciate Sonya Jason's ability to encourage good
practice methods. Musical skills are taught in a rigorous fashion, so I'm
gaining the solid grounding needed for future growth as a sax player. Her patience
allows me to relax during the lesson and have fun learning a new skill."
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| -- Alex, alto saxophone, age 59 |
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"I really like my teacher. Sonya is nice and patient, and she always
encourages me to practice. She's making me a much better player. I even got a
Superior Rating at CMEA this year!"
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| -- Sabina, alto saxophone, age 12 |
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