Mary Cowden Saxophone Lessons in Amsterdam

Saxophone Lessons Amsterdam - Mary Cowden

Hello, my name is Mary Cowden! Are you looking to start playing the saxophone? Have you started playing saxophone and found it stressful, or boring and quit? Do you have many interests and want to find ways to incorporate them with saxophone?

Pop- Indie - Jazz - Free Style

I have experience playing and improvising in pop, indie, jazz, and free music. I am also a singer-songwriter and composer and love incorporating saxophone in different genres!

Saxophone Lessons Beginners- Advanced

Whether you are just starting, coming back to the instrument, or have been playing for a while, I am happy to help. Lessons can be on soprano, alto or tenor saxophone.

Saxophone Technique

The saxophone is a fun, amazing way to express yourself. The possibilities are endless- especially when you have the technique to explore those possibilities! I will help you find interesting ways to practise your technique to unlock your potential.

Improvisation

Improvisation is one of the key ingredients to fostering creativity in music! There is nothing more freeing than expressing your thoughts and feelings through in real-time. I will help you have the technical, harmonic, theoretical, and creative knowledge to improvise.

What is Music about?

I am very against the idea that there is a "right" way to play music. Music is about love, connection, vulnerability, and having fun! With this in mind, I encourage you to let me know what you love about music and what you would like to learn!

What to Expect

Your relationship to the instrument is an important part of your learning. I like to take the first five minutes of the saxophone lesson to talk about how you are feeling and what you're practice has looked like. This is a great time to talk about your interests and experience.

Breathing Technique & More

This includes long tones, breathing exercises, sound and projection. Technical exercises also include scales, patterns, etudes, and ear training. Together we can find ways to combine, technique, music theory, sound, harmony, composition and joy.

Learning Songs

I like to see what way students work best. We can learn your favourite songs by ear or using music and other aids.

Final Check-in

At this point in the lesson we discuss the lesson, other questions, and your homework.

Piano, Singing, Flute and Composition

In addition to playing saxophone, I am a pianist, flutist, singer, songwriter, and composer. I would love to combine these your approach to the saxophone or give lessons in any of these topics!

Saxophone Lessons at Your Home

I am willing to travel to your house, or apartment any where in Amsterdam to give the saxophone lessons. I am also open to online zoom lessons.

About Me

I am a multi-instrumentalist playing alto, tenor and soprano saxophone, flute, piano, and singing. I started playing piano at the age of four years old and started playing saxophone at the age of thirteen. I has taught private lessons for the last five years and have taught at numerous jazz camps including The Hilton Head Jazz Camp, and Killooleet Camp. I graduated from The New School in New York City with a dual degree in Psychology at The Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts and a degree in Alto-saxophone Performance at the School of Jazz.

I moved to Amsterdam this past year after studying a semester at The Conservatorium van Amsterdam. I fell in love with  Amsterdam's pace, culture and music scene. In addition to jazz, I write, compose, and play contemporary music, songwriter, indie, and fusion music. I have performed on stages including The Newport Jazz Festival, The International Jazz Festival of Bern Switzerland, Amsterdam Blue Note, The Provincetown Theater, and Smalls Jazz Club. Currently, I am finishing the release of my debut album "Past These Walls".