Teaching Philosophy: "My goal is to help students find their voice irrespective of the style of music they want to focus on. I love to tell my students to always see their instruments as their voices and not as a type of machine. This posture helps my students to make the best use of materials and information acquired in each lesson, with the goal of owning their own sound. My curriculum is designed to help each student achieve their goal, walking them through the art of studying materials such as books and repertoire of different genres, from note-reading, performance, creative interpretations, and composition, to the development of a healthy and virtuosic technique. My curriculum is designed to find ways that allow students to develop their uniqueness and strength by understanding their own learning abilities and by creating the ideal learning atmosphere. It is important to take the craft and art of music seriously, as well as the development of our talents and skills. It is also vital to have fun with learning, teaching, and performing. I always try to provide an upbeat atmosphere for my students."
Biography: Olayemi Ogundola is a Nigerian saxophonist, composer, teacher, and educator. Born in Oyo State, Olayemi was raised in Oyo town, an inland state in southwestern Nigeria. Born into a musically prone family, he was exposed to various styles of music from a very early age, beginning with the church choir and later introduced to classical singing by his father who is an organist in the Methodist Church. Traditional music across West Africa, European classical music, and jazz have been major influences. He began the process of finding his own voice after being exposed to African musical instruments such as Dundun, Agbe, Bata, Sakara, Gudugudu, Omele, and Bembe. He was self-taught until he started receiving piano lessons at the age of 15. He studied classical piano in university and was self-taught on saxophone. Olayemi has often been described as a narrator and an ensemble conceptualizer, having a deep understanding of rhythm and harmony.
In 2021, he moved to the USA for his graduate degree at Longy School of Music where he studied with Noah Preminger, concentrating on jazz and contemporary music performance. As a narrator and conceptualist, Olayemi’s music is a reflection of his spirituality, cultural identity, and its prophetic significance to humanity. He is driven to explore the streams of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, a prophetic sound of Edification, Exhortation, and Comfort, and is excited to announce his debut album release in the coming days.
For over 10 years, Olayemi has taught students of all ages and levels of advancement in institutions. His students are the recipients of numerous awards and regularly receive the highest ratings in competitions and festivals. Many describe him as genuine and passionate, possessing a youthful, energetic teaching style that works well with most students. His creativity and patience allow him to help students grasp tough concepts and improve at a faster rate than they would on their own. Olayemi is currently on faculty at the Community Music Center of Boston and the American Academy of World Music, where he teaches general music, piano, and saxophone.
Olayemi has been teaching since 2013 and joined Note-worthy Experiences in June 2023 where he teaches saxophone and piano.
Biography: Olayemi Ogundola is a Nigerian saxophonist, composer, teacher, and educator. Born in Oyo State, Olayemi was raised in Oyo town, an inland state in southwestern Nigeria. Born into a musically prone family, he was exposed to various styles of music from a very early age, beginning with the church choir and later introduced to classical singing by his father who is an organist in the Methodist Church. Traditional music across West Africa, European classical music, and jazz have been major influences. He began the process of finding his own voice after being exposed to African musical instruments such as Dundun, Agbe, Bata, Sakara, Gudugudu, Omele, and Bembe. He was self-taught until he started receiving piano lessons at the age of 15. He studied classical piano in university and was self-taught on saxophone. Olayemi has often been described as a narrator and an ensemble conceptualizer, having a deep understanding of rhythm and harmony.
In 2021, he moved to the USA for his graduate degree at Longy School of Music where he studied with Noah Preminger, concentrating on jazz and contemporary music performance. As a narrator and conceptualist, Olayemi’s music is a reflection of his spirituality, cultural identity, and its prophetic significance to humanity. He is driven to explore the streams of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, a prophetic sound of Edification, Exhortation, and Comfort, and is excited to announce his debut album release in the coming days.
For over 10 years, Olayemi has taught students of all ages and levels of advancement in institutions. His students are the recipients of numerous awards and regularly receive the highest ratings in competitions and festivals. Many describe him as genuine and passionate, possessing a youthful, energetic teaching style that works well with most students. His creativity and patience allow him to help students grasp tough concepts and improve at a faster rate than they would on their own. Olayemi is currently on faculty at the Community Music Center of Boston and the American Academy of World Music, where he teaches general music, piano, and saxophone.
Olayemi has been teaching since 2013 and joined Note-worthy Experiences in June 2023 where he teaches saxophone and piano.
