Iban Lee
Tenor saxophonist, composer, and woodwind teacher
Private lessons in saxophone, flute, clarinet, and beginning piano, online and in the St. Louis area.
- Morris DaySaxophone on the 2020 single “Cooler Than Santa Claus”
- DownBeatStudent Music Award with the LACM combo
- Gulf Jazz SocietyFeatured artist in Panama City, Florida
- SyosPlays Syos mouthpieces on tenor
About
“Iban is one of the most compelling young saxophonists I’ve heard.”
Iban Lee is a jazz saxophonist and composer from Calexico, California. His playing pairs a strong sense of melody with deep respect for the jazz tradition. He performs mainly on tenor saxophone and doubles on flute and clarinet.
Iban has played saxophone since fifth grade. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Performance at the Los Angeles College of Music, where he studied with Ralph Humphrey, Mitch Forman, Ramsey Castaneda, Bryan Lipps, Jerry Watts Jr., and Tom Luer, and played in the LACM combo that received a DownBeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Performance.
He played saxophone on Morris Day’s 2020 holiday single “Cooler Than Santa Claus,” has performed with pianist Luke Pinegar and three-time Grammy-winning bassist Steve Gilmore, and was the featured artist for a Gulf Jazz Society concert in Panama City, Florida. His own releases include the singles “Shinkansen” (2020), featuring Adam Hersh, and “Hellos & Goodbyes” (2021). A dedicated teacher since 2018, Iban works with students from preschoolers to adults.
Planning an event? Send a performance inquiry.
Shows
Where to hear me play next.
No public shows on the calendar right now. Follow me on Instagram to hear about the next one.
Lessons
I’ve taught private lessons since 2018, to students from age three through adulthood. Every lesson balances strong fundamentals, music reading, and the music you actually want to play.
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Saxophone
Tone, technique, and reading for beginners. Jazz language, improvisation, altissimo, and audition prep for advanced players.
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Flute
A focused sound from the first lesson, then technique, reading, and music for band, recitals, and auditions.
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Clarinet
Solid basics, a clean sound, and a smooth path across the break into the upper register.
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Beginning piano
Reading, rhythm, and first chords for kids and adults, with real songs from the start.
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Jazz improvisation
Transcription, chord-scale relationships, and soloing over standards for saxophone, flute, and clarinet players.
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Theory and ear training
Practical harmony and listening skills that make every instrument easier to learn.
- Where
- Online, or in person in the St. Louis area
- Who
- Students from age 3 to adult
- Length
- 30, 45, or 60 minutes, usually weekly
Rates
| Lesson length | Rate |
|---|---|
| 30 minutes | $45 |
| 45 minutes | $70 |
| 60 minutes | $85 |
Your first step is a free 15-minute call. Pay by card when you book, or ask about Venmo or Zelle. Please give 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule.
Book a lessonWhat students say
Want a plan for the practice room between lessons? See my practice workbook.
The practice workbook
Saxophone Technique, Exercises & General Theory is ten pages of exercises and theory I put together from years of playing and teaching, written for saxophonists who want a clear plan for the practice room.
- Long tones across the full range of the horn
- All 12 major scales, plus arpeggio exercises
- Bebop scales: dominant, major, and minor
- The 12-bar blues, the blues scale, and pentatonics
- The Dorian mode in all 12 keys
- Diminished and whole-tone scales
- Natural, melodic, and harmonic minor
- A listening list of 40 musicians and 20 albums
$5PDF download
Buy the workbookCheckout opens soon. Leave your email below and I’ll tell you when it does.
Preview three pages
Taking lessons with me? Your copy is free.
Request your free copy and I’ll email you a download link that takes the price down to $0.
Online studio
Coming soon. I’m building an online home for saxophone and woodwind players, with video lessons, practice guides, transcriptions, and live group classes. Join the waitlist to hear first when it opens.
Book a lesson
Tell me about the student and your goals, and I’ll get back to you to plan a first lesson.
Book online
Pick an open time and pay by card, or ask about Venmo or Zelle instead. You’ll get a confirmation by email.
How lessons start
Send an inquiry
Share the instrument, experience level, and what you want to work on.
Talk it through
I’ll reply within two days to set up a free 15-minute call.
Start playing
Pick a weekly time that fits your schedule, online or in person.