Garton's Goodies

Bill Garton has been an awe-inspiring fixture in the saxophone and teaching community for decades. Unfortunately his notoriety is limited to the state of New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia Area. Hopefully, publishing some of his materials here will change all that!

I had the pleasure of meeting Bill in Philadelphia around 1990 while performing in a concert at the University of the Arts. After completing my graduate year, I found myself teaching side-by-side with him as his student teacher at Overbrook High School. Despite his wealth of knowledge and all the great teaching tricks he shared, what impressed me was (and still is) his dedication to his students and teaching in general.

Bill Garton is reknown in South Jersey for his accomplishements with the Berlin Township Elementary Jazz Band (the first of it's kind 30 years ago). When most educators would have called it quits after a great career, Bill went on to lead the Overbrook High School band program for many years. As director of the Overbrook High School Jazz Ensemble he led that band to top honors at the Berklee Jazz Festival as well as the NJ-IAJE festival (state finals).

Although the accolades speak for themselves, the proceeding pages capture some of the fundamental teachings Bill has embraced for so many years.

Thanks to Bill Garton for his wisdom and generosity in sharing it!

The contents below are in .pdf format and are considered "Garton's Goodies".

Garton's Goodies

Skip Spratt of SaxShed.com