Teacher Specialties: Saxophone, Production, Clarinet, Piano, Songwriting, Violin, Flute
Background Check
I am a multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer/arranger, and educator with over 17 years of musical experience across two continents. I have performed with and written for classical orchestras, jazz big bands, pop and rock cover bands, Latin Jazz ensembles, folk bands, Gospel groups, and classic soul tributes, and my work as a composer/arranger and performer has earned me critical acclaim in both the US and South Africa. I graduated with a Master of Music in Jazz Composition and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of North Texas. I am passionate about learning and discovering new things, and with my experience across multiple genres and instruments I am equipped to work with you at any level to help you become the musician you want to be – whether that be a concert violinist, bluegrass fiddler, songwriter and composer, sax soloist, or anything in between!
I believe each student is different, with different goals, passions, and learning styles. As a teacher, I identify where a student is strong, and build on that with skill development and positive affirmation, and strengthen where a student is not through exercises, demonstration, and performance. I work with students to achieve their goals by teaching the skills, techniques, and abilities necessary to achieve them, using the music students are interested in to teach them.
On strings, I teach beginners with a combination of Suzuki and Essential Elements repertoire. At higher levels I use the holistic approach of the Trinity Guildhall by combining technique with literature. For jazz, I teach by combining theory, improvisation skills, ear training, written music, and learning from records.
I grew up in South Africa (SA), and at a young age received multiple baroque and classical music awards. In 2014-15 I was selected as 1st alto sax in the National Schools’ Big Band, a jazz band made of SA’s top students. I received a BM in Jazz Studies, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of North Texas, and won their Innovative Music Programming Award in 2017. Additionally, my composition The Diver won Pi Kappa Lambda’s undergraduate achievement award.
I performed in DFW at venues such as Ruins, The Rubber Glove, Greater Denton Arts Council, Denton Arts & Jazz Festival, Dan’s Silverleaf, and KUZU Radio, and in SA at The Crypt, Kirstenbosch Gardens, the National Arts Festival, and Castello’s.
I have taught students in music, math, physics, and English since 2016 in DFW and SA.
The first instrument I ever learned to play was recorder, when I was five years old. Shortly after that, I saw a folk violinist perform, and as a young child I begged my parents to let me learn violin, and finally when I was seven years old, they did! Learning what I was excited about as a child gave me so much joy, especially when I was given the opportunity to play in the styles I wanted to, and that’s why I’m so passionate about teaching students the music they’re excited about.
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Simeon Davis answered my call for a fiddler in my bluegrass band and has enriched my band’s sound with his beautiful improvisations, fills, and leads. He’s professional, dependable, passionate, talented, and a pleasure to work with. I recommend him highly as a teacher and a colleague.