I open my teaching studio only a few times each year. …Why?
So I can help you get results like these.
After 13+ years of creating video lessons for my students, I like to get to know YOU when you join our community so I can help you get right to the stuff that you need.
I’ll email you before the next time it opens up. Promise.
Check your email for a video from me. If you don’t see it, please check your Promotions/Junk/Spam folder. (and if you find it there, drag it into your main inbox so you don’t miss the other videos).
If you’re not already subscribed to my YouTube channel, join more than 100,000 folks and subscribe here. I’ve produced hundreds of vlog episodes, many of which share my favorite tips for maximizing practice time. Like Episode #119, where I demonstrate a fun limitation exercise where I practice with only one hand.
Talk soon,
Bob
P.S., What can you expect when you become a Virtual Studio member? Here’s a few examples from studio members:
“Unbelievable improvements in my tone and technique!”
“I’ve only been with you a couple of weeks and have been doing your suggested long tones, overtones, chromatics, and the prep exercises for the Visual Technique for Improvisation course. I can’t believe the improvements I’m seeing already in both my tone and technique. I wish I’d found you years ago!”
– Phil Seddon
“More invigorated to practice = rapid progress!”
“I’m far more invigorated when I practice, which means I practice more often and for longer, which means I’m seeing more progress faster, which invigorates me and inspires me to practice more, and on and on.”
– Dave Prowse
“Taught me how to learn songs, step by step!”
“I was chasing my own tail for years before I joined Bob’s Virtual Studio. He taught me how to take a song I wanna learn and, starting with the root movement, take it slowly, in bite-sized chunks, in a way that I actually retain it and can improvise over the chord changes!”
– Christian Austin
“I have never grown so much on my instrument in such a short period of time.”
“I joined Bob’s Virtual Studio in August 2019, and I have never grown so much on my instrument in such a short period of time. I have a fuller, more natural sound, my range on Tenor has gone up to a second octave Bb in the altissimo range, and my intonation has improved. I’ve learned how to [really] learn tunes, keep the form, and implement vocabulary. It’s all highly motivating. It feels like the instrument is disappearing in my hands, and I can concentrate more on the music itself.”
– Arno Rosens
“Game-changer for my saxophone playing!”
“Bob’s lesson on embouchure and reed strength was a game-changer for me. It completely transformed my saxophone playing. I used to have a tight embouchure, stifling my sound, but now I can play more freely. It even helped with altissimo!”
– Duncan Hellmers
“Lifetime of ideas!”
“With just a few words I think you’ve given me a lifetime of homework and ideas. It’s amazing how you’ve zeroed in on what might help me. I agree with everything you said and I love that saying ‘Jazz is the teacher, Funk is the preacher.'”
– Nicholas Powers
“Energized and connected to the horn instantly!”
“I work as a music teacher. It’s really hard to deal with kids all day then come home and pick up the horn for much-needed shedding. It used to take me a good hour or so to get comfortable on the horn, especially when I haven’t played for a few days, but that warmup video you posted helps so much! I just go through it and I feel energized and connected to the horn instantly.”
– Alex Harrison
“Affordable and effective private lessons!”
“FINALLY! Affordable and easily assimilated lessons. 8 minutes and I’m off to the races. Piece of cake to implement and rewarding for certain. All my best ability comes from when I was doing what Bob did in these lessons.”
– Andrew B.
“Fantastic opportunity to play along with a pro and thrive in a global community!”
“Having the opportunity to play along with Bob via the recorded lessons has been fantastic. My intonation, sound, rhythm/time have all improved! Along with the inspiration, motivation, and focus from his lessons, being part of the incredible global community of fellow musicians in the studio has been vital.”
– Richard Beavitt
“Direction on how to move forward, progressively.”
“I’ve been perusing your lessons today and can’t tell you how great this is. I’ve done Skype lessons with other teachers but dropped them because of the cost. But now, with your direction on how to move forward progressively, I feel like a kid in a candy shop.”
– Mary H.
“One of the best investments I’ve made in my musical life.”
“One of the most important things Bob teaches you to do is focus. How you practice is as important (or even more so) than what! Although I’m a non-saxophonist, I’ve rarely found this matters. Most of what Bob discusses is musical vernacular which translates to any instrument; time, language, groove, harmony, sense of melody, etc! Plus, his love of great tunes and transcribing master players! He continues to inspire and guide my development as an improvising musician. My practice sessions have gained a solid sense of depth and focus like never before. We live thousands of miles and an ocean apart but through the Virtual Studio, I wholeheartedly consider myself a student of Bob’s.”
– David Blazye
“Made a ‘quantum leap’ in the level of my playing.”
“In addition to focusing on a group of individual lessons and courses, I have benefited most from participating frequently in monthly ‘Transcription Challenges’ and interacting with other members in the studio’s forum. There is a lot of camaraderie and good vibes among the members of the forum. The forum provides an opportunity to learn from one another, and Bob contributes constantly to the conversation. Bob’s instructional style emphasizes, I believe, two principal concepts: Work on fundamentals (his 7T’s), and imposing limitations on your practice (don’t try to do too much at the same time; focus on one or two elements). I have benefitted so much from adopting Bob’s approach to practicing my instrument. Adopting his system has allowed me to make a ‘quantum leap’ in the level of my playing.”
– Ivan Iriarte
“Invaluable feedback, accordion player thrives in a saxophone-centric studio!”
“I worried that the lessons in the Virtual Studio would be overly saxophone specific, but decided to bring my accordion and give it a shot. The benefits I’ve gotten from the studio have been immense. I’ve transcribed more solos in the first 6 months of the studio than I ever have in my life. The lessons on soloing over static funk grooves have been huge, and Bob’s personalized feedback on my solos were invaluable as I geared up for a studio recording session. I’d recommend this studio to anybody who’ll listen.”
– Josh Hou
“Life-changing impact: learning how to practice!”
“I don’t exaggerate when it comes to praise–you have FOREVER changed my life for the better, Bob!!! Period. Bob’s online community totally blew my mind. You learn HOW to teach yourself and immediately find weaknesses in your playing. You also learn how to become accountable for your own practice routine.”
– Johnny Medley
“Saved me from giving up playing saxophone”
“About a week ago, I was on the verge of putting down the horn for good. Your advice, along with some self-reflection, brought me out of this slump and negative mindset. Thank you for taking time to pass along your experience. Not everyone would take that time, and it means more than you may know.”
– Eric C.
“Got me away from written music and rediscovered the joy in playing saxophone!”
“I’m 61, and I honestly thought I was ‘over the hill’ when it came to improving technique and memorizing songs, solos, and vocabulary. Also, I was a prisoner to written music. Bob’s Virtual Studio has me enjoying playing the saxophone again.”
– Jack from St. Louis
“The way I approach music is much different now”
“The way I approach music, bands, and musicians is a lot different after studying with Bob. The info we get in the Virtual Studio is priceless, and no matter what level of musicianship you are, this site will benefit you. I wish it was available 10 years ago!”
– Roger Salles
“Transformed transcribing from an enemy to a friend”
“This lesson is helping me become a friend of transcribing. It always has been an enemy to be feared for the reasons you mention in the video. Bob, you are building a bridge of peace and goodwill between saxophones and humans all over the globe. Awesome.”
– Jay A.
“A fabulous teacher and amazing saxophonist!”
“I’ll never forget the lesson on using minor triads over V chords for an easy way to achieve that ‘altered’ sound. Bob is a fabulous teacher and an amazing saxophonist.”
– Damien Allouch
“Expanded my horizons in practicing, harmony, improvising and transcribing”
“As a saxophonist who majored in music but hadn’t picked up the horn in years, you’ve been an awesome resource and have expanded my horizons in terms of practicing, harmony, improvising and transcribing.”
– Ben Schmitt
“My playing has improved dramatically”
“I’ve learned an enormous amount through your Virtual Studio and my playing has improved dramatically. Thanks for producing such wonderful material. Your generosity and enthusiasm are infectious.”
– Neil McKenzie
“I appreciate how you listen to and respond to members”
“I love all your content and the way you explain things. I really appreciate the time you put into remaining active, creating new content, as well as listening to and responding to members. I found it especially beneficial as a guitar player – looking and thinking about things from a different perspective.”
– Andrew Sulley (guitar)