Student endorsements

 
"I have been playing Tenor all my life and have played professionally occasionally. I met David at a jam session in Portland about a year ago. When I heard his playing, I knew I wanted to study with him. He was doing some very interesting and beautiful playing involving alternate harmonies.  I have long wanted to incorporate this type of thing into my playing, so I was very happy David agreed to lessons.  Over the following year, David provided a wealth of great information/insight and was extremely adaptable to working with me.  I not only learned a huge amount, but have a lot of material to continue working on for years to come."- Ben Fajen
 

"David Valdez is not only personable, but his fundamental skills as a sax player and his deep knowledge of jazz theory and harmony are truly impressive. He knows how to break down complex topics and explain them in digestible ways while giving students concrete ideas to work on at home. He is an incredible resource for the musical community of Portland and an inspiring teacher." -Brooks M. Foster 
 
"While trying not to fall prone to hyperbole, I can honestly state that David Valdez is the best teacher I've studied with. In just 4 lessons, I've learned enough to keep me busy for the next year, if not longer. David is able to communicate a great deal of information with a casual, understandable approach. He is very patient, and is always willing to answer questions (including emails and phone calls outside of lesson time) and repeat explanations. He also offers constructive playing advice in a very positive manner. David uses a structured method in his teaching that he tailors to each student. He makes sure that you understand the basic theory before moving on to more advanced concepts. Most importantly, the lessons are fun -- David is easy to joke around with, and he is very generous with his time (i.e., if the lesson isn't finished after an hour, he doesn't push you out the door). And for a player and teacher of his caliber, the price for a lesson is very reasonable." -Marty Sacks 
 
"I really enjoyed my workshop and individual teaching sessions with David on the Prague international jazz workshop. His teaching approach is clear and methodical; he takes apart your technique and puts it back together step by step, carefully explaining how to get a better and deeper sound on your horn. Harmonically he explains substitution in a straightforward way that won’t bedazzle you and leave you confused like other teachers. Above all he is patient and will astound you with his level of knowledge but won't intimidate you in the process. A born teacher. Thanks David."-Phil Chaundy (Prague International Jazz Workshop student)

"David Valdez is among the top educators s in the Northwest, with extensive knowledge of harmony, saxophone technique, the jazz improvisational language and band leading techniques. David has the unique ability to cater his teaching to varying levels of players and is an inspiring person to work with. In addition, his blog is a staple on the Internet jazz community, and contains unique and interesting interviews and articles. As a student of his for several years, David gave me valuable knowledge of chord scales, chord structures, improvisational ideas, and saxophone technique while keeping me inspired and on my toes."- Ian Christensen (graduate of the New School) 

"If you're tired of Bebop licks, and atonal free jazz hurts your ears, kick your improv skills up a notch. David is the master of inside/outside within a solid harmonic foundation. He is most generous when it comes to sharing his vast knowledge of harmony and the improvised line. I highly recommend studying with David if you're serious about improving your jazz skills." -Charles Guerin
"I've studied with David for the last seven years and the experience has been terrific. His mastery of sax technique and advanced harmonic concepts are clearly evident. I truly appreciate David's ability to simplify complicated musical ideas and make the process fun. He is always patient and creates an ideal learning environment. I'd recommend David for students of all abilities."- James Joyce 

"I studied with David's for two years, and it was incredibly rewarding. From the very first lesson I had with him, it was immediately apparent that he wanted the best for me, and seemed to take personal interest in my musicianship. David didn't hesitate to provide me with all sorts of resources - recordings, books, CDs, charts, arrangements, etc. I worked extensively with David not only on improvisation, but saxophone technique, ear training, harmony and theory, arranging, composing, music production, sight-reading, flute, learning tunes, and more. By the time I was a senior in high school, David helped tremendously in my college search and preparation. He again provided me with resources to prepare myself for college-level music courses, aided me in the making of my audition CD, and helped me to find a school that was suitable for me. Besides being a strong educator, David is a fantastic musician. I have enjoyed playing with him at my lessons as well as seeing his gigs with his own groups. He is (in my opinion) my favorite saxophonist in the entire Portland area as well as one of my favorite saxophonists today. I would recommend studying with David to anyone, regardless of age or experience."- Nicole Glover (William Paterson University student)