Ted Taforo

Ted Taforo is a Los Angeles-based musician known for his powerful saxophone sound, versatility and unique compositions. Taforo is a two-time recipient of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award and was recently named semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Taforo has been featured on JUNO award and GRAMMY award nominated albums and a Telly Award winning commerical. Taforo’s songs have been featured on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music editorials, including Dog Dad which was featured in the Spotify Fresh Finds Jazz Best of 2023. Taforo has released six records of original music with various labels including Revolver Records, Urban Waves Records, and Future Gods.

Ted is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY where he studied jazz and saxophone. In 2012 he arrived at CalArts where he started fusing that background with influences from other genres such as Javanese Gamelan, funk, and electronic music. Since graduating from CalArts with an MFA in Jazz Reeds in 2014, Ted has worked in Los Angeles as a saxophonist, composer/arranger, woodwind doubler, and educator. Ted has been releasing albums under his own name since early 2016. 

Credits include: Grammy nominated Best Rock Album, Spoon: Lucifer on the Sofa; Juno nominated Jazz Album Of The Year, Efajemue: Aesthetics, Netflix’s Chef’s Table score; Sprite’s Limelight featuring Rakim and Latto score trailer; HBO’s Faye documentary score; PBS’s The Express Way with Dulé Hill; Spoon: Hot Thoughts; Who Is Stan Smith? score.

My teaching goals are to help my students discover what is important about music for them,

while giving them the tools to have a positive and informed musical experience. I work with

students from a wide range of economic and cultural backgrounds, ages, and experience levels.

One thing that every student has in common is the need for positive, honest, and constructive

feedback. I’m very passionate about the power of music to instill a sense of community and

belonging. Throughout history music has given people a sense of identity and a means of

expression. By supporting and strengthening students’ unique musical needs, we as music

educators can actively make space for new and existing musical communities to flourish

everywhere.

I’m interested in helping students discover and explore music in a way that will serve them for

the rest of their lives. I’m so fortunate to have had great teachers and colleagues who have

made music an important and positive force in my life. Helping others develop this craft so that

they can have music in their lives as well is my goal as a teacher. 

Teaching Employment History:

San Gabriel Unified School District

408 S Junipero Serra Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776 (626) 451-5400

Position:

Music Immersion Experience Resident Artist at Roosevelt Elementary, August 2015-August 2019

Responsibilities:

Develop curriculum, prepare, and teach the following elementary music classes:

● General music instruction for 3rd grade (2015-2016)

● General music instruction Kindergarten (2017-2019)

● Woodwinds instruction for combined 4th/5th Flute and Clarinet class (2017-2019)

● Flute instruction for 4th grade flute class (2016-2017)

● Combined 4th/5th Grade Band Class (2017-2019)

● 3rd Grade Percussion Class (2016-2017)

● Improvisation/Composition Class (2016-2019)

● CAD (Creativity Ability Development) Class (2016-2017)

● Assistant for 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade level choir classes (2017-2018)

Rhodes School of Music

3706, 215 N Larchmont Blvd unit c, Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 522-4888

Position:

Woodwinds Instructor, October 2016-Present

Responsibilities:

● Private instruction on saxophone, flute, and clarinet students aged 6-adult

● Electronic Music and Audio Production, June 2021-2022: Private instruction in Ableton,

Logic DAWS and composition/arranging aged 8-adult

Point Blank Music School

1035 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019 (323) 594-8740

Position:

Ableton online instructor, January 2023-present

Responsibilities:

● Online 10 week cumulative course on Ableton Live recording software, class size of 30+

adults for Winter/Spring quarter 2023

West Coast Music Academy

26635 Valley Center Dr #109, Santa Clarita, CA 91351 (661) 253-9262

Position:Woodwinds Instructor, August 2013-December 2016

Responsibilities:

● Private instruction on saxophone, flute, and clarinet students aged 8-adult

South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory

1509 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA 91030 (626) 403-230

Position:

Woodwinds Instructor, October 2016-August 2017

Responsibilities:

● Private instruction on saxophone, flute, and clarinet students aged 13-adult