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Exciting In-Home Private Lessons
Learn With a Pro Boston Woodwind Educator, and Magna cum Laude Berklee Grad!
I teach exciting, high-quality, in-person, lessons to children and adults. My lessons are fun, inspiring, rigorous, and packed with all of the musical knowledge needed for you to reach your full playing potential. Every lesson is customized to your exact goals and learning style. If you are looking for an alternative to basic, disorganized lessons that don't lead to a huge improvement in playing ability, or "lessons" that consist of playing page after page from a method book I can't wait to meet you! My lessons are perfect for students that love great music and need more depth, complexity, and mentally stimulating music than traditional teachers can provide.
With the help of my teaching methods, my students have performed in all of the major festivals and competitions including the NY Winds Festival at Carnegie Hall (2022), The Essentially Ellington Festival (Lincoln Center, NYC), MA Districts (NE and Eastern), and MA and NH All State (one of my alto saxophonists is currently #2 in the entire state of New Hampshire NHBDA). More information about my student's achievements can be found below.
My students range from total beginners who have never played an instrument before (or have ever read a note of music), to highly advanced players perfecting their skills for auditions at top colleges and universities. Whether you are looking to just have fun learning an instrument, or if you have huge goals for you life that most people would consider unrealistic (I won't), I will customize your instruction to match your exact goals and learning style.
No prior experience with music is required to begin learning an instrument. Don't worry if you don't know how to read music yet (or play by ear), or if you've never played a wind instrument. All of the knowledge and skills that you need to succeed will be provided via clear, step-by-step instructions and live examples played by me. I am a very patient and supportive teacher.
Convenient afternoon, evening, and night lesson times are currently available. If you are excited to get started right away, I currently have two open lesson times in my schedule. If you are looking for a fun, high-energy, teacher with a passion for music education, I would love to meet you. To schedule a lesson, or to discuss any questions that you have, please contact me at your convenience. I look forward to your message! ~Dustin
Children's Lessons ~ Total Beginner through Highly Advanced
Adult Lessons ~ Total Beginner through Highly Advanced
Service Area
Massachusetts: Middlesex County, Essex County, Greater Boston
New Hampshire: Hillsborough County
Contact Information:
Email - dustin@dustinferreira.com
Cell - 617-475-0646 - (Text any time)
Private Lesson Tuition
(2nd-3rd Grader Lessons) ~ 45 Min - $65
Standard Lesson ~ 1 Hour - $80
90 Min Lesson ~ - $110
Two Hour Lesson ~ - $135
All lessons take place in the comfort and convenience of your own home - I travel to you.
- Technical information for advanced students below -
October 2025 Private Lesson Openings:
*One current Massachusetts opening for an elementary/middle/high school student*
*One current Massachusetts opening for an adult student*
*One current New Hampshire opening for an elementary/middle/high school or adult student*
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Private lessons are available on the following instruments:
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Soprano Saxophone
Clarinet
Flute
Styles of music taught include:
Jazz, Classical, Funk, Fusion, Latin Jazz, Avant-Garde, Blues (Beginner - Highly Advanced)
Jazz and Classical Improvisation (Beginner - Highly Advanced)
Wind Ensemble/Band Repertoire (Beginner - Highly Advanced)
Fundamental Skills Development for Total Beginners
Additional/Optional Subjects for Intermediate/Advanced Students:
Music Theory
Creative Improvisation Skills Development
Transcription Skills
Listening/Ear Training
Chord/Scale Theory
Practical Applications of Theory to Improvisation
Music Notation Skills (Handwritten and Software-based)
Jazz Composition
Counterpoint/Canonic Composition
Ballad Improvisation Techniques
Fast Improvisation Development
Extended Techniques
Double Tonguing
Vibrato Development
Audition Preparation Techniques
Teaching Style
I am a very patient, supportive, and rigorous teacher. My style of teaching is modern, fun, and well-organized. Every lesson is packed with exciting music, fun duets, fundamental skills/rigorous technical development, and valuable knowledge about all of the concepts of music.
Every lesson is crafted to your exact needs and goals. I do not teach cookie cutter, method book lessons. Instead, I curate music and exercises that align perfectly with your tastes, and individual learning style - all drawn from my huge personal library of music, and knowledge as a lifetime musician. Every lesson is a creative and inspiring experience. If you have a specific technical or creative issue, I have almost certainly encountered it in my career, and I know exactly what resource/exercise is needed to help you/your child.
At Berklee (Magna cum Laude grad) I received the most intense and rigorous training available on the saxophone, clarinet, and flute in addition to years of professional educational training on the best methods used to teach the art of music (BM Music Education). If your playing has stagnated/plateaued and you are looking to take your playing to the next level with a real teacher, I would love to help you.
If you are excited about playing an instrument, enjoy great music, and you love learning we would be a perfect match.
For parents who are tired of basic lessons, dumbed down music, disorganized instruction, and want their children develop proper musical, creative, motor, analytical skills through quality music instruction, I totally get it. I can't wait to meet you!
About Dustin
•Graduate of Boston's Renowned Berklee College of Music with High Honors BM (Magna cum Laude) '09
•My teachers included Berklee Woodwind Dept. Vice Chair Paul Wagner, Fred Lipsius (1969 Grammy Winner), Jackie Beard, Dr. Peter Cokkinias (BSO/Boston Pops), and Andy McGhee (Jazz Sax Legend). I studied composition and counterpoint with the brilliant Dr. Beth Denisch.
•Earned MA K-12 Licensure in Music Education from the MA Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education ('09)
•15 years of professional experience as a music educator
•Professional saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist and music educator in Greater Boston, Middlesex County, and Essex County
Student Achievements
•My students have performed in/at: Carnegie Hall (NY Wind Band Festival 2022), MA Jr and Sr. Districts (Eastern and Northeastern), MA All State, MA Association of Jazz Educators (Gold Medal - three times), NH Band Director's Honors Band (placed 2nd in the entire state of NH - 2025 season), NEC Youth Symphony Orchestra, YAWE, MYWE, Essentially Ellington Festival (Lincoln Center), JazzHers, Litchfield Jazz, Lexington Wind Ensemble, Lexington High Jazz Combo, Lexington High High Septet, Belmont Wind Ensemble, Belmont Jazz Ensemble, Curtis Jazz Band, Lincoln-Sudbury Jazz Band, Newton South Jazz Ensemble and Combo, Fenn Jazz Band, Middlesex School Jazz Orchestra, Noble & Greenough Jam Band, Berklee High School Jazz Festival (Boston), Charles Mingus Festival (NYC), UNH Jazz Festival, and many more.
•My students have majored/minored or performed in their college's ensembles at the following institutions: Berklee, University of Chicago, William’s College, Boston College (full ride), Boston Conservatory (pre-merger), Harvard, American University of Paris, Purdue, Washington University (St. Louis), Rochester, UVM, The University of Pennsylvania, University of Massachusetts (Amherst and Lowell), Loyola (New Orleans) and the University of Michigan.
Special Skills
• I play the piano, and I can provide accompaniment for the jazz/improvisation portion of your lesson (if applicable).
• Extensive experience working with highly intelligent/high achieving children and adults who need more depth and creativity in their music education than standard lessons can provide.
• Extensive experience teaching adult beginner students. If you are adult who has always wanted to a learn an instrument, but you're tired of beginner lessons that are designed for kids, I would love to help. My adult students have shared their trauma stories about their prior lessons (baby-talk, kids music, cartoon stickers, singing songs about bumblebees). You will receive proper lessons designed for adults from me.
• Extensive experience preparing students for auditions/concerts. Past/present audition prep has included university auditions and recordings, scholarship pre-audition recordings, middle school/high school band/wind ensemble seating auditions, University of Chicago Wind Ensemble, Lexington Jazz Combo, Newton South Jazz Ensemble and Combo, Jr and Sr. Districts, NEC Youth Symphony Orchestra, YAWE, MYWE, Essentially Ellington Festival, Berklee High School Jazz Festival, Charles Mingus Festival, Litchfield Jazz, 2022 NY Winds Fest @ Carnegie
I currently travel to the following towns for private lessons. If your town is not listed, please send me a message. I always look forward to meeting new students in new places!
Andover
Arlington
Bedford
Belmont
Burlington
Carlisle
Concord
Hollis NH
Lexington
Lincoln
Nashua NH
Newburyport
Newton
North Andover
Sudbury
Westford
Winchester