I am Ted Taforo, a passionate saxophonist, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles. Over the years, I have dedicated myself to teaching music in diverse settings, developing engaging curricula, and performing with various ensembles and in top international festivals. My experience extends from music immersion programs at elementary schools to private instruction for all ages, while also contributing creatively to award-nominated albums and soundtracks for prominent documentaries and series. With formal training from the California Institute of the Arts and the Eastman School of Music, I combine solid educational foundations with practical experience in jazz reeds and contemporary media. I continuously expand my skills in electronic music production and have embraced online teaching platforms, reaching broader audiences eager to learn music technology and performance. I find great joy in fostering creativity in my students and sharing the transformative power of music through performances and recordings worldwide.

Ted Taforo

I am Ted Taforo, a passionate saxophonist, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles. Over the years, I have dedicated myself to teaching music in diverse settings, developing engaging curricula, and performing with various ensembles and in top international festivals. My experience extends from music immersion programs at elementary schools to private instruction for all ages, while also contributing creatively to award-nominated albums and soundtracks for prominent documentaries and series. With formal training from the California Institute of the Arts and the Eastman School of Music, I combine solid educational foundations with practical experience in jazz reeds and contemporary media. I continuously expand my skills in electronic music production and have embraced online teaching platforms, reaching broader audiences eager to learn music technology and performance. I find great joy in fostering creativity in my students and sharing the transformative power of music through performances and recordings worldwide.

Available to hire

I am Ted Taforo, a passionate saxophonist, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles. Over the years, I have dedicated myself to teaching music in diverse settings, developing engaging curricula, and performing with various ensembles and in top international festivals. My experience extends from music immersion programs at elementary schools to private instruction for all ages, while also contributing creatively to award-nominated albums and soundtracks for prominent documentaries and series.

With formal training from the California Institute of the Arts and the Eastman School of Music, I combine solid educational foundations with practical experience in jazz reeds and contemporary media. I continuously expand my skills in electronic music production and have embraced online teaching platforms, reaching broader audiences eager to learn music technology and performance. I find great joy in fostering creativity in my students and sharing the transformative power of music through performances and recordings worldwide.

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Work Experience

Co-composer, woodwinds at Netflix Chef's Table: Noodles
July 1, 2024 - September 1, 2024
Saxophonist at Jordan commerical
June 30, 2024 - July 31, 2024
Saxophonist and horn arranger with composer Louis Weeks
Music Immersion Experience Resident Artist at San Gabriel Unified School District
August 1, 2019 - August 7, 2025
Developed curriculum, prepared, and taught various elementary music classes including general music instruction for Kindergarten and 3rd grade, woodwinds instruction for combined 4th/5th grade classes, percussion classes, improvisation/composition classes, CAD (Creativity Ability Development) classes, and assisted with elementary choir classes.
Woodwinds Instructor at Rhodes School of Music
October 1, 2016 - Present
Provided private instruction on saxophone, flute, and clarinet for students aged 6 to adult. Also taught electronic music and audio production courses in Ableton and Logic DAW covering composition and arranging for students aged 8 and older.
Ableton Online Instructor at PointBlank Music School
January 1, 2023 - Present
Conducted online 10-week cumulative courses on Ableton Live recording software for adult students with class sizes exceeding 30 during the Winter and Spring quarters of 2023.
Woodwinds Instructor at West Coast Music Academy
December 1, 2016 - August 7, 2025
Private instruction on saxophone, flute, and clarinet for students aged 8 to adult.
Woodwinds Instructor at South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory
July 31, 2017 - August 6, 2025
Provided private woodwinds instruction focusing on saxophone, flute, and clarinet for students aged 13 to adult.
Saxophonist at HBO Docs FAYE Score by Tyler Strickland
July 1, 2024 - July 30, 2024
Music Immersion Experience Resident Artist at San Gabriel Unified School District
August 1, 2019 - August 30, 2025
Developed curriculum, prepared and taught various elementary music classes, including general music, woodwinds, percussion, improvisation/composition, and creativity ability development from 2015 to 2019 at Roosevelt Elementary School. Assisted with choir classes and conducted combined band classes targeting multiple grade levels.
Woodwinds Instructor at Rhodes School of Music, Los Angeles, CA
October 1, 2016 - Present
Provided private instruction on saxophone, flute, and clarinet to students aged 6 to adult. Taught electronic music and audio production including Ableton and Logic DAWs, composition, and arranging from 2016 to present, catering to learners aged 8 and up.
Ableton Online Instructor at PointBlank Music School, Los Angeles, CA
January 1, 2023 - Present
Delivered a 10-week cumulative online course on Ableton Live recording software for adult students, with class sizes of 30 or more during Winter/Spring quarter 2023.
Woodwinds Instructor at West Coast Music Academy, Santa Clarita, CA
December 1, 2016 - August 30, 2025
Provided private lessons on saxophone, flute, and clarinet to students aged 8 and above from 2013 through 2016.
Woodwinds Instructor at South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, South Pasadena, CA
August 1, 2017 - August 30, 2025
Gave private instruction on saxophone, flute, and clarinet to students aged 13 and older between October 2016 and August 2017.

Education

MFA in Jazz Reeds at California Institute of The Arts
August 1, 2012 - June 1, 2014
Bachelors of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Media at Eastman School of Music
August 1, 2008 - June 1, 2012
Master of Fine Arts in Jazz Reeds at California Institute of the Arts
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014
Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Media at Eastman School of Music
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2012
Master of Fine Arts in Jazz Reeds at California Institute of the Arts
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2014
Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Media at Eastman School of Music
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2012

Qualifications

2x ASCAP YOUNG JAZZ COMPOSER AWARD Winner
February 1, 2005 - February 1, 2006
Saxophonist on GRAMMY nominated LUCIFER ON THE SOFA by SPOON
January 1, 2022 - March 1, 2022
Saxophonist, flutist, composer on JUNO nominated AESTHETICS by EFAJEMUE
August 7, 2025 - August 7, 2025
ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2006
ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007
ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2006
ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007

Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment
    paper Sprite LIMELIGHT featuring RAKIM and LATTO

    Saxophonist on re-sample of Don’t Sweat The Technique made by Sam Broido.

    paper Spoon US from Hot Thoughts

    I co wrote this song with Britt Daniel and played saxophone on it. From Spoon’s Hot Thoughts Album 2017