Private Lessons

Testimonials | About Private Lessons

"Mr. Sizemore is a highly energetic teacher who motivates his students to achieve to their fullest potential and is excellent leading a group of students. In addition to his teaching, he is an extremely talented musician (both on flute and saxophone) and has provided outstanding presentations on Native American culture to our students for over ten years. I have found Mr. Sizemore to be a significant contributor to the music program at Sycamore School. Nothing in years of private lessons and well-organized recitals changed my opinion. One thing that I greatly have come to admire about Mr. Sizemore is his honesty and integrity. For a child who wants to improve and become a better musician, I can think of no better teacher than Dennis Sizemore."

Jeffrey Stroebel
Head of Middle School, Sycamore School,
Indianapolis, Indiana (through June, 2007)
Head of School at the Da Vinci Academy,
Elgin, Illinois (beginning August, 2007)

"I take the greatest professional pleasure in writing this. My acquaintance with Dennis began when he traveled to our school to present a clinic on Native American music for our second and fifth grade students in 2001. He has continued to present clinics on a yearly basis for our students and has also assumed the role of private lesson instructor for many of our band students. In addition, I have called upon him numerous times to run sectionals with our 6th-8th grade Symphonic Band students. In each circumstance he has demonstrated incredible knowledge and leadership ability.

Dennis possesses many qualities which have contributed to his success as a
teacher and presenter. Personal characteristics such as patience,
consideration, emotional stability, and good judgment make him an asset to any school corporation. He has demonstrated not only a thorough knowledge of
music and incredible musical ability, but he also demonstrates a love of music
that is contagious and passed on to his students. I have been extremely impressed with his ability to relate to the students, yet maintain high standards. His dedication and commitment to his endeavors, both musically and professionally are unparalleled."

Candi R. Granlund
Director of Bands, Sycamore School, Indianapolis, Indiana

Students of Dennis Sizemore say this:

"Dear Dennis,

I wanted to tell you that the private lesson I had with you at Zion was a life changing experience for me. I had the belief that I am not a musician and you disproved that theory of mine and now the world is opening up for me. I just need to go through the doors that are opening up for me. So much has fallen into place it boggles my mind. I just needed to be willing to say, "I am a musician" and you were totally instrumental in helping me find the permission to do that. I have done a concert of sorts. I got some nice feed back on my playing and one person asked if I had a CD. The ironic thing is that the tenant where I was doing some electrical work turned out to be a person who records. He has gotten some new software and wants to record me for free to work with the new software. So I may even have a CD out in the relatively near future. I will send you one when it happens. So....Thank you!!!!! I will stay in touch. Happy fluting."

Native American Flute student at the Zion Art and Flute Festival

"During our time together, Dennis Sizemore went above and beyond the call of duty to develop my musical skills and intelligence, preparing me for a rigorous musical studies program at the collegiate level. More important than developing my musical potential, Mr. Sizemore had a major hand in who I have become as a person. To put it simply, Dennis Sizemore is the teacher that I hope to one day become in my own career."

Kyle Stec
D.M.A. Candidate (Saxophone Performance), University of North Texas
M. of Music (Saxophone Performance), University of North Texas
Bachelor of Music (Saxophone Performance), 2007, Indiana University
Performer at The World Saxophone Congress, 2003

"I spent more than five years as a saxophone student of Dennis Sizemore. I have never met a teacher more well-versed in his subject matter or more dedicated to the well-being of his students. Dennis blended high standards of technique, musicality, and professionalism with an ability to meet each of his students at his or her level of ability and interest. He worked ceaselessly and creatively to support our abilities and to foster our interests, exposing us to many practice methods and to many different styles and aspects of music. Dennis was more than a teacher for me; he was my mentor. I am still learning from the example he set as an honest, enthusiastic, compassionate, confident yet humble human being."

Michael B.P. Hannah

About Private Lessons:

Private Lessons with a skilled mentor are absolutely the most effective form of music instruction. As your teacher, I have the ability to draw upon many styles of instruction.

Having been a lifetime student in the traditional indigenous environment, I studied privately with a great many traditional Native American Flute masters. I bring that perspective and teaching style to you. While studying for my Doctoral and Masters degrees in Music Performance at Indiana University, I was required to learn professional teaching and performance techniques, methods that were developed by world class performers and teachers and endured centuries of rigorous testing. In additon to that rigorous training, I also studied privately with Daniel Deffayet, Professor of Saxophone of the Paris Conservatory. I mention this because The Paris Conservatory holds the legacy of being regarded as the pinnacle of music performance study in the world. All of this is part of my personal skill set. Add to those abilities a library of practical techniques that I have tested and learned 'on the road' during over thirty years of pubic performances for audiences of thousands of people. In short, in my private teaching, I become for you a very diverse and valuable resource for your continued musical growth.

My personal teaching philosophy is based upon honoring the needs and pace of learning of the student. I teach for the individual, and realize that every student is unique in interests, abilities, needs and learning styles. I also believe that one of the most important services I can offer is to teach you the most effective time saving short cuts which will predict the attainment of your goals. These techniques maximize your enjoyment while minimizing the financial cost for instruction.

Private lessons are currently available from Dennis Sizemore on Native American Flute and Saxophone. The lesson process is simple and very straightforward. After a brief but detailed interview of the student, the teacher-student team identifies a set of attainable goals, the activities necessary to accomplish the goals, the desired length of lessons, the number of lessons to be taken, and a reasonable timeline needed to accomplish the goals.

Lesson Formats

In the past, private lessons historically have been taught in person. That method is offered through this web site. The teacher and student meet in person at the location chosen by the student. This format is very effective and allows for a very relaxed and spontaneous sharing of knowledge. I currently live in the Charlottesville, Virginia, area and am available to teach lessons in person to anyone wanting to meet with me in that area. I have also been hired many times to travel to various areas of North America to teach lessons in person. If you want to take lessons in person, just send me a note through my email link and we will start immediately!

NEW!

We now offer lessons through eNAF University and eSax University. These are on-line interactive instruction services offered uniquely at this web site, and the first on-line interactive lessons for Native American Flute ever offered. This innovative method allows the student to take any number of lessons

- while in the comfort of their home

- any place on the planet

- through their own computer

- whenever the student is available, any time of day

- as frequently as the student likes

Taking lessons on-line is the most practical choice for busy people, those with irregular schedules or people with travel restrictions.

For information on PRIVATE LESSONS ON NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE, click here

For information on PRIVATE LESSONS ON SAXOPHONE, click here