Joe Elliott
About
Hello! I’m a British saxophonist and teacher now based in the NYC area. I earned my jazz saxophone degree from Trinity Conservatoire in London (2015-2020) — studying under Jazz Messengers legend Jean Toussaint — and have spent my career performing everywhere, from jazz clubs such as Ronnie Scott's to stadium gigs with artists like Coldplay (Wembley Stadium, Music of the Spheres Tour, 2025).
I’ve been teaching for years (Northampton International Academy, UK, 2020-2021; private students 2019-present) alongside gigging, and I love passing on what I've learned on the bandstand. Helping students figure out the horn and learn to enjoy making music is one of the best parts of the job.
Teaching Style
I teach alto and tenor saxophone to players at all levels. My approach is not to push a rigid curriculum on you (unless you want this), but to give you the technical know-how needed to play whatever music you love. I keep lessons focused and practical, but relaxed -- making sure we build facility on the horn while keeping and nourishing that joy you felt the first time you made a sound on the instrument.
My motto is 'your goals, my expertise'. You decide what you want to play, and I'll show you how to make it happen. Technical exercises and theory are simply the tools that unlock freedom on the horn!
Areas we are likely to focus on:
Sound: Developing a full, resonant tone across the range of the instrument.
Repertoire: Learning the tunes you love across jazz, funk, pop, classical etc.
Practice: Developing a clear practice plan together, in preparation for the next session.
Technique & Articulation: Building clean technique and tongue control through targeted exercises.
Improvisation & Theory: Demystifying chord changes, learning to learn songs/solos by ear, and connecting what you hear directly to your fingers.