About Me

I am Ethan Tai, a senior attending Newark Academy, a high school in Livingston, NJ. On this website, you'll find all my music-related endeavors, as well as my blog, Musicality, and interviews with established musicians/educators analyzing the impact of music and music education on society and our way of life. Ultimately, I want to expand the accessibility of music education and continue the legacy of the musicians who came before me.

 

I began playing the alto saxophone in 6th grade under the mentorship of Jason Anderson and later, Julius Tolentino. Initially, I was intrigued by jazz and saxophone, and during the pandemic, one of my favorite pastimes became transcribing new solos and practicing big band parts. Eventually, in my freshman year, I was allowed to be part of Newark Academy’s most advanced jazz band, Chameleon. As Chameleon’s lead alto player for the last few years, I enjoyed taking part in many jazz opportunities on the East Coast, including the Mingus Festival, Essentially Ellington, and NJAJE(States). These opportunities have only increased my passion for learning the language of jazz and have opened me up to a large network of jazz players and educators. This, in turn, has allowed me to become a better player and mentor for my peers in the saxophone section. I hope that in the future, I can continue to pursue more music opportunities as well as share experiences with others who have the same burning passion I have for living, breathing, and spreading jazz.