Miller May
About
I am a saxophonist and composer based out of Athens, Georgia and the Atlanta area. Currently a resident of Athens, GA, I am an alumni of the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in music composition and a minor in jazz studies. Originally from Columbus, GA, I moved to Athens to study saxophone performance and pedagogy under the instruction of Dr. Connie Frigo, and composition under Dr. Adam Roberts, Dr. Adrian Childs, and Dr. Peter Lane. I am deeply involved with the Athens jazz community and an active member in two bands from that area: The jazz and hip-hop influenced horn group Misnomer (baritone sax), and the straight-ahead jazz sextet Play On Six (tenor sax). I continue to perform, compose, and teach within the Athens and Atlanta area as a freelance musician, equally active in both classical and jazz settings.
I am a pretty laid back teacher that enjoys a fun learning experience more than anything else. I enjoy letting students come to me with problems or areas of focus that they wish to work on, and then we work from there. However, if they are lost as to where to begin, I have plenty of subjects to start from based on the student's experience level. I am a firm believer in experimenting with new ideas both on the instrument and off, and I believe that improvisation and "noodling" is just as important to mastering an instrument as technical study. I am a music theory lover, so if the student is interested in a more dissected approach, I am more than happy to accommodate!
If you book a lesson and already have some ideas on what you would like to work on, message them to me and I can be extra prepared for our time together!
Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition with a minor in jazz studies from the University of Georgia.
Baritone saxophonist in horn band Misnomer.
Member of Fresca Saxophone Quartet for three years (baritone sax).
Multiple compositions performed by students and professionals, both in the classical and jazz area.
My teaching method can vary based on the area of focus; whether it be classical, jazz, or something even more modern. Regardless, my main points of interest are tone development, technical ability and consistency, and overall musicality.
If the student is interested in classical saxophone, excerpts and understanding how to read in depth into sheet music will be more prominent along with the above topics.
Recommended Texts: *48 Famous Studies for Oboe or Saxophone by W. Ferling (or Marcel Mule version), Les Gammes Conjointes Et En Intervalles by Jean-marie Londeix (this is a scale and interval book), Rubank Method books for saxophone (elementary, intermediate, or advanced version)
*This etude book is a bit more advanced. I would suggest starting with Rubank method books and the scale book if you are not as comfortable of a player, and then moving on to the 48 etudes.
If the student is interested in jazz, the focus will be more on improvisation, understanding harmony, differences in styles, and transcribing, among the other topics listed in the first paragraph.
Recommended Books: *The Real Book - Volume 1 - Sixth Edition (any "Real Book" will do, but this is by far the most popular and most used)
*They make these in multiple hey areas depending on your instrument, so be sure to get the right one. If you play alto or bari, get the Eb version. If you play soprano or tenor, get the Bb version. It'll make your life a lot easier!