Learn more about what the Saxophone Artistry Mentorship Program has done for saxophone players just like you!
Student Case Studies
Click on the video to hear the results our students have achieved and their experience!
Liza Fitzgerald
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Beginner
Interesting facts: She brings joy, enthusiasm and motivation to the whole Saxophone Artistry community.
Lely Fiallos
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Beginner
Interesting facts: She flew to London from the US to meet me in person
Results: Before joining the mentorship, Lely had worked with a few different teachers, but she often felt like she wasn’t making much progress.
While the lessons were helpful, there was no clear sense of direction, and she struggled to know what to focus on or how to improve between sessions.
Since joining the program, everything has changed.
Lely has been able to make real, consistent progress. She appreciates the patience and support she receives, which helps her work through challenging passages without feeling frustrated.
After just one year, there has been a real sense of accomplishment. She can now play pieces confidently and knows exactly how to practice them.
Along the way, she also met a wonderful practice partner, Liza, whom she enjoys practicing with weekly. They challenge and support each other which brings an extra incentive to her development
Gee Dupree
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Intermediate
Interesting facts: She performs in open mics 4/5 times a week.
Results: Gee’s experience at Saxophone Artistry was transformative.
Before joining, he mostly learned by himself using YouTube videos and online courses, which allowed him to play note by note but left him without guidance on phrasing, dynamics, or proper technique.
Through the mentorship, Gee found structured support that helped him understand not just the notes but how to connect them, control softness and loudness, and approach pieces musically. He noticed a significant improvement in both his playing skills and his understanding of music, emphasizing the value of personalized guidance over self-directed learning. Gee strongly recommends the program to others, highlighting that having a teacher to provide direction and a solid foundation is crucial for advancing as a saxophonist.
Urska Levec
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Beginner
Interesting facts: She used to play the flute before taking up the saxophone.
Results: Urksa started playing the saxophone entirely as a self-taught player, relying on YouTube videos.
She never had any structured training or lessons and was making very little progress, as she was following random tips that weren’t tailored to her needs.
After she joined Saxophone Artistry, she gained a clear practice structure, learned effective techniques, and developed a better mindset toward learning.
She now knows exactly how to approach challenging pieces, makes consistent progress, and feels more confident in her playing. Her favourite part of the program was the live coaching calls and personalised feedback, which she says made a huge difference in her development.
Lesley Armour
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Beginner
Interesting facts: She is a passionate bread-maker.
Results: Results: Leslie recently completed a year at Saxophone Artistry.
Before joining, she had some experience with the saxophone as a child, taking a few lessons from a local teacher. After that her saxophone was tucked away for decades.
As a student inside Saxophone Artistry, Lesley demonstrated to be a very committed and attentive student putting in practice the advice given.
She quickly noticed areas where her equipment and technique were outdated and was able to catch up through observation and practice.
The weekly coaching sessions further motivated her, as the group environment fostered encouragement without pressure.
Over the course of the year, Leslie progressed a lot, gaining confidence, improving her technique, and enjoying the social and musical aspects of playing in a group.
Sabina Gordois
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Intermediate
Interesting facts: She performs in open mics 4/5 times a week.
"My playing before was really wooden, now I can put more feeling into the music. Saxophone Artistry has now become part of my life and I will be signing up again"
When she joined Saxophone Artistry, she had already been playing for a while, but she had never worked on building proper foundations, so her playing had some flaws.
She's a very musical person and loves to perform at open mics with her husband and friends. In fact, she is so busy performing that she's played up to five nights a week, plus some daytime gigs too.
Since working together, I have seen her grow both musically and technically. She has put hard work into her playing, followed my advice, and has been an example and inspiration for many in the Saxophone Artistry class.
I know Sabina will do great things with the saxophone, and her audience is already seeing the results and enjoying her music.
Great work, Sabina!
Great work, Sabina!
Jo Preston
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Upper Beginner
Interesting facts: She loves dogs, plays the drums, and is a dedicated student.
Results: Jo came to me with a very clear objective: to improve her timing.
Due to some health reasons, Jo has a significant challenge when it comes to staying in time.
During our time together at Saxophone Artistry, Jo was able to improve her awareness of timing to the extent of being able to play in time on the saxophone. This is no small milestone.
We worked on many specific drills to help her anticipate the beat and approach her timing differently, so it would sound in time to the audience.
She put in a lot of hard work and followed my advice, and what she has been able to achieve makes me really proud as a teacher. I'm very happy that I was able to help Jo in her journey! Keep it up, Jo!
Carmine Tedesco
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Beginner
Interesting facts: Hard worker and committed student with an amazing self-discipline.
Results: Carmine is likely one of the hardest-working students I've had the luck of teaching over the past few years.
Carmine had very little experience before joining Saxophone Artistry. He had been learning on his own and hadn't achieved tangible results.
His embouchure and sound needed to be built from scratch while also working on the foundations of timing.
With patience and dedication, Carmine was able to find a comfortable setup that allowed him to expand to the full range of the saxophone within nine months only.
Determination is what Carmine brought into the Saxophone Artistry class, and many were inspired by his example. Bravo, Carmine!
Mike Mueller
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Upper Beginner
Interesting facts: He is a committed tennis player and fan
"No other program out there ever appealed to me until Saxophone Artistry came along as it met my needs immediately. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made."
Results: Mike started playing back in the 70's and studied with a saxophonist from the New York Philharmonic, played in bands and wind ensembles.
Then left the saxophone for 40 odd years and just recently came back to it.
Mike is a remarkable student with so much drive and enthusiasm.
His improvement on the saxophone is an example for many saxophone students.
His sound, technique and timing have all developed to a level not comparable to how he was!
Keep up the amazing work Mike!
Bonnie Rose
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Advance
Interesting facts: Used to study with renown saxophonist Dr. Eugene Rousseau
Results: Bonnie's journey is very similar to Mike's.
Bonnie had the fortune of studying with the great Dr. Eugene Rousseau.
She then stopped playing for 45 years and just recently came back to it.
She then stopped playing for 45 years and just recently came back to it.
Since working together she was able to re-discover the sound that she once had and refine her skills.
Bonnie's got so much musicality in her and she is constantly researching within herself to become the best player she can ever be.
I'm so proud of what she has accomplished so far and I'm very happy to have the opportunity to be her mentor.
Beverley Jamieson
Plays: Tenor Saxophone
Level: Beginner
Results: Beverley's journey started with the wrong foot a few years ago. She tried various teachers and online courses but nothing really worked for her.
Beverley was missing someone who could guide her patiently and show her everything she needed to know without assuming any past knowledge.
Since working together Beverley's development on the saxophone has been exponential, no say the least.
She has been able to internalised the practice concepts I have taught her and make them her own reaching a whole new level in a very short period of time.
I'm super proud of Beverley and I know she will go far on the saxophone! Brava!
Patricia Lowe
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Upper Beginner
Interesting facts: Used to be a professional jazz singer
Results: Patricia is a great saxophone student of mine who's development has seen many ups and downs.
She picked up the horn 4 years ago and has studied with various teachers and played with different small groups.
Patricia has so much potential on the saxophone and can achieve so many amazing things in music.
Motivation, accountability and proper guidance have been her biggest struggles and since working together I have helped her overcome these roadblocks through various practice tricks that are truly making a difference in her playing.
Kevin Finch
Plays: Tenor Saxophone
Level: Upper Beginner
Interesting facts: He plays on a beautiful tenor Selmer Mark VI.
Results: Kevin has been playing for 12 years on and off but only during his time studying with me he's felt a significant progress,
Kevin says:" since working with Martino, my playing, my musicality, my sound have vastly improved.
You should feel proud as your ability as a teacher and I'm certainly grateful for the time you've given me".
With our step-by-step saxophone program Kevin has been able to transform his playing in ways he was never able to do on his own in 12 years of playing.
Francesco Gallo
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Upper Intermediate
Interesting facts: He's a translator and calisthenics athlete
Student Testimonials
Sofia Jalonen
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Professional
Interesting facts: She's an actress studying for her masters in script writing
Results:Sofie got her Bachelor of Music in Finland in classical saxophone.
Upon moving to London she had to stop playing for 2 years and then decided to pick it up again.
That's where I started working with her and I helped her get back to the level she had reached.
She went from feeling like a beginner again to doing professional auditions for teathers and bands.
Her journey has been fascinating as she's put great effort and dedication into applying the concepts and techniques I've shown her. The results have been fantastic and Sofia is now teaching saxophone full time.
Damian Ryne
Plays: Tenor Saxophone
Level: Upper Beginner
Interesting facts: He's a great artist living in London.
Virin Sidhu
Plays: Tenor Saxophone
Level: Upper Beginner
Interesting facts: He's a doctor in the NHS
Mo Doshi
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Intermediate
Results: Mo is a great student with a great talent.
She's very gifted and can learn a piece just by hearing it once.
Since working together, she's been able to refine her tone and musicality.
She has also been a member of our saxophone ensemble and has performed solo in several concerts across London.
Chloe Stauton
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Beginner
Results: Chloe's started the saxophone just for fun and suddenly became more than a hobby.
Her dedication and commitment to the saxophone are unique and since working together I was able to help her develop her skills from the ground up in a very short amount of time.
Her progress has been fantastic!
Oswaldo Del Aguila
Plays: Alto Saxophone
Level: Upper Beginner
Results: Oswaldo's first steps on the saxophone were given in France where he started learning few years back.
Since working together he was able to find a sweeter sound across the whole range and improve his dexterity on the horn.
He played Stevie Wonder's Superstion as first alto in our ensemble.
