Lars Jacobsen

Hi! I'm Lars. I have 25+ years experience and teach piano, saxophone, clarinet, flute, piano, voice, composition, improvisation, transcribing, music theory, Logic Pro X, GarageBand, beat making and more! All ages welcome!

I am a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music (Summa Cum Laude), where I had the privilege of studying with saxophone legends Joseph Viola, George Garzone, and Bill Pierce. I was honored to be selected by Mr. Viola to receive the Joseph Viola Scholarship for Excellence in Classical Woodwind Performance.

For over 25 years, I have lived and worked in New York City as a musician, teacher, and composer. I have had the opportunity to share the stage with numerous respected musicians, including Norah Jones, J.C. Hopkins, Amanda Monaco, Nicholas Walker, George Garzone and more. My compositions have been featured in off-Broadway productions with stars such as Academy Award winner Melissa Leo, Anthony Rapp (Rent), Wilson Cruz (Rent), Mary Testa (Wicked, Guys & Dolls), Kathleen Chalfant, Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager, Orange is the New Black), Adrienne Moore (Orange is the New Black), and others.

I lead the Lars Jacobsen Trio and have been teaching music for over 25 years, including a decade at Trevor Day School in Manhattan.

As a private music teacher, I draw on my decades of experience to quickly assess each student’s strengths and pinpoint areas for improvement. My approach is rooted in building a strong foundation—focusing on fundamentals that will enhance their skills in all aspects of playing. I provide a variety of targeted exercises designed to address these fundamentals in an engaging and effective way. Additionally, I use my extensive knowledge of repertoire to select fun and challenging pieces in a range of styles, always tailored to the student’s interests and goals. This ensures that learning remains both rewarding and motivating, allowing students to progress quickly while developing a deep and lasting love for music.