Boost for saxophone lessons

"As a music teacher, you often work alone - if you were to collect all the teaching material that comes out of it, you would be faced with a huge treasure trove," says Matthias Tschopp. The jazz musician and music teacher - who states with a healthy dose of self-irony that the baritone saxophone is without doubt the best of all instruments - therefore published a book six years ago together with his colleague Monica Boffo a workbook for instrumental lessons.

However, as his personal repertoire of methods and exercises continued to grow, he decided around two years ago to launch a podcast entitled "Teaching Saxophone" and, in parallel, the "Sax Teacher Mastermind" training course for saxophone teachers from German-speaking countries.

He now publishes a new podcast every two weeks in which he interviews colleagues on specific topics. Also every two weeks, the music teachers registered for further training meet via Zoom to, in Matthias Tschopp's own words, compile secret recipes and talk about everyday worries - with the aim of "boosting" their own teaching.

Podcaster - a new profession

During the pandemic at the latest, countless people have been gripped by podcast fever, both as listeners and creators. But you don't make a podcast on the side - as Matthias Tschopp, who invests around half a day to a whole day a week, also realizes. "It's a profession in its own right," he says, "Like a bottomless pit. You could always do more, even better, even more creatively."

However, the positive feedback from people in the saxophone community gives him the energy to keep going, even if the effort is not yet financially worthwhile. In a recent episode, for example, he put together a list of useful apps and tools, and he spoke to his colleague Mirjam Scherrer about teaching children of kindergarten age. "It's incredible how much work is lost because most people develop things on their own," he says. "Promoting exchange became my mission."

Sax Teacher Mastermind - intensive exchange

Saxophone teachers who would like to benefit even more directly from Tschopp's work can register for the "Sax Teacher Mastermind" training course. This gives them access to a platform with numerous materials and a forum for questions, and every two weeks they can discuss specific questions from their lessons via video call. Every month there is also a focus topic and corresponding material.

"If someone asks a question that none of us have an answer to, it's my job to do the research," says Tschopp. He researches topics, puts together exercises or sometimes creates a memory game with grip cards. The participants support each other and provide each other with specific tips and experience.

"I find both the work for the podcast and for continuing education extremely satisfying," says Tschopp. He also uses the ideas and newly created materials himself in his lessons at the music school in Zug.

Registration is currently open for the next edition of the training course "Sax Teacher Mastermind" (online). Interested parties can register until the end of February.