Iban Lee

Tenor saxophonist, composer, and woodwind teacher

Private lessons in saxophone, flute, clarinet, and beginning piano, online and in the St. Louis area.

Iban Lee playing tenor saxophone on stage
  • 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.”

Ramsey Castaneda

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.

Listen

Watch

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.

  • Saxophone

    Tone, technique, and reading for beginners. Jazz language, improvisation, altissimo, and audition prep for advanced players.

  • Flute

    A focused sound from the first lesson, then technique, reading, and music for band, recitals, and auditions.

  • Clarinet

    Solid basics, a clean sound, and a smooth path across the break into the upper register.

  • Beginning piano

    Reading, rhythm, and first chords for kids and adults, with real songs from the start.

  • Jazz improvisation

    Transcription, chord-scale relationships, and soloing over standards for saxophone, flute, and clarinet players.

  • 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

Private lesson rates
Lesson lengthRate
30 minutes$45
45 minutes$70
60 minutes$85

Your first step is a free 15-minute call. Please give 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule.

Book a lesson

What students say

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.

One email when the studio opens, plus occasional updates. Ask to be removed anytime.

Book a lesson

Tell me about the student and your goals, and I’ll get back to you to plan a first lesson.

  1. Send an inquiry

    Share the instrument, experience level, and what you want to work on.

  2. Talk it through

    I’ll reply within two days to set up a free 15-minute call.

  3. Start playing

    Pick a weekly time that fits your schedule, online or in person.

Lesson format