Felician Erlenburg

New to Lessonface
Flute, Saxophone, Electronic Music Composition, Music Theory for Producers, Songwriting, Guitar
Lesson Fees
$25.00 / 30 Minutes

About

Hey! I'm a saxophonist, composer, recording artist, and music educator who's been making, performing, and teaching music around the world for over 20 years.

Whether you're just starting out, getting ready for auditions, or looking to find your own sound, my lessons are built around you. We'll work on technique, but also ideas around creativity, improvisation, listening, confidence, and learning how to express yourself through music—not just play the notes.

I've taught everyone from complete beginners and teenagers to university-level musicians in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Vienna, and Eugene, Oregon. (e.g. Geert Groote College Amsteram, Dalton School Rotterdam, Vienna International American School, University of Oregon).

I studied Jazz Saxophone at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague (Master's), earned my Bachelor's degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, continued my studies at the Conservatoire de Paris and the Landeskonservatorium Klagenfurt, and also hold a Certificate in Music Recording and Production from the University of Stavanger.

As a performer, composer, and songwriter, I've worked across jazz, experimental, and contemporary music. I've released music with my jazz band Kleinod, the experimental project Zero Happy Campers, and the indie songwriting project What Is A Human, performing at clubs and festivals throughout Europe and the United States.

What we can work on:

  • 🎷 Saxophone technique and finding your sound

  • 🎵 Jazz improvisation and creative playing

  • ✍️ Songwriting and composition

  • 👂 Ear training and learning by listening

  • 🎼 Music theory that actually makes sense in real music

  • 🎙️ Recording, production, and creating your own tracks

I believe everyone has their own musical voice. My job isn't to make you sound like someone else—it's to help you discover what makes your playing unique while giving you the skills and confidence to keep growing. Keep going, don't doubt your uniqueness, don't forget that everyone struggles when understanding and changing something new!

Teaching Style

A balanced approach that keeps things engaging:

  • 🎼 20% music theory—only the stuff that actually helps you play better.

  • 🎵 30% learning songs and repertoire you'll enjoy.

  • 💪 30% practice strategies and exercises that make real progress.

  • ✨ 20% personalised coaching based on your goals, interests, and learning style.

The exact balance can always change depending on what you want to focus on—we'll shape the lessons around you.

Curriculum

Wow! That is a hard one! It really depends on where you are standing, where you want to go and what gets you motivated, but here are a few texts that I have checked out:

Here is a more organised version grouped by category. I’ve structured it in a way that would work well for a teaching philosophy, curriculum, or reading/materials list.

🎷 Saxophone Technique & Classical Instrumental Studies

  • Hyacinthe Klosé — 25 Daily Exercises for Saxophone (also published as 25 Daily Studies for Saxophone).
    Various editions, including Carl Fischer and Alphonse Leduc.

  • Marcel Mule — 48 Études Faciles et Progressives pour Saxophone (2 volumes).
    Alphonse Leduc, Paris.

  • John O’Neill — The Jazz Method for Saxophone.
    Schott Music.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach — Partita in A Minor for Solo Flute, BWV 1013.
    Originally composed c.1723; available in modern scholarly editions including Bärenreiter and Henle Verlag.
     

🎼 Music Theory, Harmony & Analysis

  • Frank Haunschild — Die Neue Harmonielehre (Volumes 1 & 2).
    AMA Verlag, Brühl, Germany. Originally in German!

  • Arnold Schoenberg — Theory of Harmony (Harmonielehre).
    Original German edition published 1911; English translation by Roy E. Carter, University of California Press, 1978.

  • Joe Mulholland & Tom Hojnacki — The Berklee Book of Jazz Harmony.
    Berklee Press / Hal Leonard, 2013.

  • Jamey Aebersold — Jazz Play-A-Long Series.
    Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Inc.
    A large collection of improvisation resources combining lead sheets, chord progressions, and play-along tracks. Examples:

    • Vol. 1: How to Play Jazz and Improvise

    • Vol. 2: Nothin’ But Blues

    • Vol. 3: The II/V7/I Progression

    • Vol. 54: Maiden Voyage

🎹 Classical Keyboard, Composition & Musical Foundations

  • Johann Sebastian Bach — Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach (The Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach).
    Originally compiled in 1722 and 1725; modern editions available from publishers including Bärenreiter and Henle Verlag.

✍️ Composition, Musical Thought & Aesthetics

  • Paul Hindemith — A Composer’s World: Horizons and Limitations.
    Harvard University Press, 1952.

  • Igor Stravinsky — Poetics of Music in the Form of Six Lessons.
    Harvard University Press, 1947.
    Based on Stravinsky’s Charles Eliot Norton Lectures (1939–1940).

  • Alex Ross — The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century.
    Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007.

🎺 Jazz Improvisation, Arranging & Ensemble Writing

  • Joe Mulholland & Tom Hojnacki — The Berklee Book of Jazz Harmony.
    Berklee Press / Hal Leonard, 2013.

  • Ken Pullig — Arranging for Large Jazz Ensemble.
    Berklee Press / Hal Leonard, 2013.

  • Jamey Aebersold — Jazz Play-A-Long Series.
    Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Inc.

 

Credentials & Affiliations

Conservatory Klagenfurt, Saxophone lessons with Hannes Kawrza, Bruno Singer and Michael Erian

Berklee College of Music BM Saxophone lessons with Frank Tiberi and George Garzone

Royal Conservatoire The Hague (Koninlkijk Conservatorium Den Haag) MM Saxophone lessons with John Ruocco, drums with Erik Ineke

Leiden University BA

University of Stavanger Recording Certificate

LUCA School of Arts Composition classes with