Private ONLINE Lessons for any instrument
Are you looking to develop your musical abilities? Would you like feedback, guidance, and advice from professional musicians? The Woodlands Jazz remote private lessons are perfect for you. Our private instructors include GRAMMY Winners, professors from conservatories and schools of music, broadway performers, educators from Jazz at Lincoln Center, and professional freelancers. Our lessons are affordable and just a click away. Review our FAQs for information on how remote private lessons work. Click the “Book a Lesson” button under a teacher to schedule.
We’re also offering weekly webinars in a masterclass format with some amazing musicians. With sessions like “7 Ideas to Become More Creative”, and future sessions including Rhythmic Awareness, Composition and Songwriting, Practice with Purpose, and many more students explore their passion for music. To learn more and register contact us via email.
Henrique Eisenmann, Piano
Henrique Eisenmann serves on the jazz piano faculty at the New England Conservatory and is NEC Jazz Lab’s Artistic Director. Drawing inspiration from different world genres, chants, voices, poems and animal sounds,Eisenmann is changing the paradigm of contemporary improvisation, creating an original musical universe that is powerfully inventive, authentic and accessible to anyone.
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Eisenmann has always been intrigued with the idea of translating different musical sonorities to the piano. Eisenmann focuses on unique collaborations with artists from all different fields: dancers, poets, and actors. He has been a featured performer at international jazz festivals and has worked with dozens of outstanding musicians such as Gunther Schuller, Luciana Souza, George Garzone, Matti Caspi and Tom Zé. His doctoral thesis explored the idea of free improvisation as an international phenomenon.
Michael Thomas, Saxophones and Woodwinds
Grammy-winning saxophonist, woodwinds specialist, composer, and arranger Michael Thomas has been an active member of the New York City music community since arriving in 2011. He is an active performer on broadway and serves as faculty at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music. Holding degrees from the University of Miami, New England Conservatory, and The Juilliard School, Michael has performed throughout the United States and abroad. He has appeared as a sideman with Brad Mehldau, Dafnis Prieto, Nicholas Payton, Miguel Zenón, Etienne Charles, and Jason Palmer, and Michael’s talents can be heard on over 30 recordings. According to the New York Times, Michael writes “energetic, tuneful music for both combos and large ensembles”, and All About Jazz describes his playing as “a particular revelation, as he provides superb, well-crafted solos”. He is the co-leader of the Terraza Big Band, a big band with the GRAMMY-nominated album, One Day Wonder. Michael is an in-demand artist on saxophones, clarinet, and flute.
WENDY Eisenberg, Guitar
Wendy Eisenberg is an improvising guitarist, banjo-player, vocalist and poet. She is a multi-faceted artist whose musical vocabulary knows no bounds. An adjunct professor at Harvard Extension School, Eisenberg has established a dynamic career. She has provided soundtrack work for scientific projects at the MIT Media Lab, premiered new works by John Zorn, Matt Mitchell, Ted Reichman, Maria Schneider, and Marta Tiesenga, and collaborates frequently with musicians including Matt Mitchell, Trevor Dunn, Ches Smith, Joe Morris, Damon Smith, Shane Parrish and Zach Rowden, among many others. As a composer, her works have been premiered at The Stone in New York City, The New School, the Hartt School of Music, New England Conservatory, Yale, and Hampshire College. Eisenberg serves as guitar faculty for New England Conservatory’s Jazz Lab summer program. Using the languages of free jazz, new music, metal and art song, her music challenges the representational and technical demands placed on a guitar and a banjo in contemporary music.
Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere, Bass
Bassist Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere is an in-demand performer and teaching artist based in New York City. An educator and performer with Jazz at Lincoln Center, Zwelakhe has collaborated with some of the biggest names in jazz including Christian Scott, Dave Holland, Randy Weston, Dave Liebman, Jason Moran and many more. Zwelakhe serves on the bass faculty of New England Conservatory’s Jazz Lab summer program as well as Litchfield Jazz Camp. He is a recipient of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead Fellowship, and is a former member of New Haven’s Educational Center for the Arts (ECA). He frequently travels around the world performing at festivals including the Monterey Jazz Festival, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Panama Jazz Festival, Lagos Jazz Festival, Osaka Jazz Festival, Joy of Jazz Festival, and MoMA’s “Summergarden” series. Zwelakhe maintains a busy teaching and performing schedule and continues his own private study with legendary bassist Ron Carter.
Peter Moffett, Drums and percussion
Peter Moffett is a professional freelance drummer and educator based in New York City. He is the drummer for the chamber-pop band Tredici Bacci, a group hailed by Rolling Stone Magazine as 10 New Bands to Watch. Moffett is drum faculty at New England Conservatory’s Jazz Lab summer program, and education is central to his passion for music.
A son of public school music teachers, Peter also maintains a robust teaching studio. Prior to moving to New York, Peter worked in a number of public and private schools as an adjunct instructor and percussion coach, teaching private lessons, marching band percussion, and percussion ensemble. In New York, Peter still teaches percussion, and in addition, returns to Boston every summer for Jazz Lab, a program he has helped run since its inception in 2013.
Tim Lienhard, Trombone
Tim Lienhard is a trombonist, educator, musical entrepreneur and arts advocate based in The Woodlands, TX. He is the founder and executive director of The Woodlands Performing Arts, Jazz Lab - The Woodlands, and New England Conservatory's premier summer jazz program, Jazz Lab. Tim has performed and recorded extensively including appearances alongside Ruben Blades, Connie Francis, Danilo Perez, Dave Holland, George Garzone, and Dave Liebman.
Throughout his life, Tim has maintained an active performing, teaching and recording career. He has been a guest artist and clinician at the JZ Club in Shanghai, China, the Panama Jazz Festival, summer faculty at New England Conservatory, and regular teaching artist at Eastern Washington University. He is guided by the belief that young musicians should be given the opportunity to develop a deep desire for self-expression and the confidence that their musical contributions have value, no matter their stage in development.
Kai Sandoval, Trumpet
Kai Sandoval is a New York based trumpet player who is an emerging expert on brass technique. As a first-call lead trumpet player and improviser, Kai regularly performs with some of the most well-known musicians in New York. His popular Instagram account, @chobanimami, is a resource for brass players , and he has received acclaim for the educational tools he provides.
A rare combination of lead-trumpet expertise and deft improvisational skills make Sandoval the ideal educator for brass players at any level. He has performed and recorded extensively with musicians including Donny McCaslin, Arturo Sandoval, John Clayton, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, The Wayne Shorter Quartet, Tiger Okoshi, Wycliffe Gordon, Don Byron, Steve Owen, Harry Watters, and the Boston Brass.
Online Lesson FAQs
How much do online private lessons cost?
Private lessons through The Woodlands Jazz are $55, an awesome rate considering the average cost of a lesson from our incredible faculty can regularly cost over $100. All lesson fees go directly to the artists, supporting the livelihood of working musicians.
Do I need any special equipment or software?
No software or special equipment are required to take an online lesson. We recommend students use a laptop for their lesson. The private lessons will take place over Zoom, and the laptop interface produces the best results. Zoom will also work using a tablet or smartphone, although there are less options for changing advanced audio settings in mobile. Read this document on optimizing your sound quality in Zoom.
What is your cancelation policy?
Students can change their lesson date/time within 24 hours after scheduling the lesson, but we do not allow cancelation of lessons. We communicate regularly with students before their lesson, providing calendar invites, as well as reminders about the date and time of their lesson. If a student misses their lesson, we do not reschedule.
How long are the lessons?
All lessons are one hour.
Are online lessons the same as in-person lessons?
There are some key differences between online and in-person lessons. Online lessons allow for advanced use of technology and multi-media. For example, a faculty member is able to demonstrate on their instrument with multiple camera views of their playing, share their screen to provide recommendations for continued listening assignments and facilitate musical discovery. Students are also able to perform, providing the faculty all the information they need to make suggestions on improvement of technique, style, and help with increased facility on the instrument.
How should I prepare for a private lesson?
Students should have in mind a few concepts they’d like to cover during the lesson. An hour is a lot of time, but in the context of the student’s development it can seem very short. Consider a topic or two for each lesson (“I’d like some advice on improving my technique,” “What are some strategies to becoming a better improviser,” “I’m interested in learning more about music composition and songwriting,” “Can you give me some recommendations on musicians I should listen to.”). These conversations will help you take what’s discussed in the lesson and continue them in your own practice.
Can I schedule multiple lessons?
Yes, you can schedule as many lessons as you like. It’s advisable to take multiple lessons with a musician, spaced out at an interval of about once a week. This will allow you to get to know a faculty member, work on the information they present you in a lesson, and check back in to get further advice and recommendations.
Do I have to take a lesson with someone who shares my same instrument?
No, you don’t need to take a lesson with someone who shares your same instrument. In fact, it can be very beneficial to study with someone who plays a different instrument than you. One reason is that someone who plays another instrument will have a refreshingly unique take born of their own musical perspective. They often will make recommendations you might not have considered, therefore helping you grow and expand your abilities.