Palm Desert High School Clinic with Will Goble, Palm Desert, CA

David is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition. He also holds degrees from the University of North Florida (BM - Jazz Studies, Saxophone Performance) and Florida State University (MM - Jazz Studies, Saxophone Performance). He is a past student of legendary alto-saxophonist Bunky Green and has extensive experience in composition, theory and improvisation. In 2001, he was one of only twenty-three rising artists invited to participate in a residency program at The Steans Institute in Chicago. While there, he had the opportunity to work alongside many of the most recognized young artists of today, under the tutelage of David Baker, Nathan Davis, James Moody, Danilo Perez, and Rufus Reid.

David has taught at both the University of Texas at Austin and Florida State Universities. His current activities include working with small and large jazz ensembles in addition to maintaining a private studio that consists of over forty saxophone and clarinet students. His secondary students are consistently selected for various region, area, and state awards and ensembles and have included recipients of college music scholarships.

David has over five years saxophone studio experience in addition to teaching improvisation and working with numerous ensembles. He is available for clinics with academic or professional ensembles of all levels.

“I have never heard anyone speak with the clarity that David does when he teaches improvisation. He makes it so easy to understand and then do.”  - Kenny Vise, Director at Lake Travis High School, Austin, TX

“David has a profound knowledge of music and speaks both fluently and articulately about the world of jazz.”  - Tim Mikan, Director of the Palm Desert High School Jazz Ensemble 1, Palm Desert, CA

“David is a wonderful teacher that the students really respond well to. The students are motivated to work hard and we have seen much success from the students who study privately with David.”  - Jonathan Rees, Director at Deerpark Middle School, Round Rock, TX

Private Instruction

Information on private instruction can be found here. (PDF)

Clinics

Past improvisation or ensemble clinics include :
Palm Desert High School, Palm Desert, CA
Durham School of the Arts High School, Durham, NC
Texas All-State High School String Workshop, Austin, TX
The University of Texas Summer Music Camp, Austin, TX
Lake Travis High School, Lake Travis, TX
McCallum Fine Arts Academy, Austin, TX
Florida State University Summer Jazz Camp, Tallahassee, FL
Florida State University Summer Music Camp, Tallahassee, FL
The University of North Florida Summer Jazz Camp, Jacksonville, FL

David currently teaches privately in the following school districts :
Austin Independent School District
Bastrop Independent chool District
Lake Travis Independent School District
Round Rock Independent School District