John Sanders
★★★★★ 5 · 8 student reviews
John Sanders has been teaching music in the greater Memphis area for over 20 years, and his approach is deliberate enough to have earned him a grant. In 2005, the Fayette County Education Foundation funded his project 'Ensemble Music for Children,' the same year he completed his Orff Music certification at the University of Memphis. That certification, rooted in a child-centered philosophy of rhythm and play, shows up clearly in how his students describe their lessons.
“From the beginning, he doesn't teach your child -or you for that matter- all of the boring theory for years until you play real songs. He just starts you on songs and teaches you the theory as you go, and as you need it. In my opinion, that is amazing. I'm not forced to do tons of schoolwork in a music lesson that should be fun. Instead, I get to play the songs I want.”
— C. Williams, Cordova — piano student of 5 years
Sanders holds a Bachelor's degree in music composition from Texas A&M Commerce and a Master's in music composition from the University of Memphis, with a minor in music theory. His primary instrument is piano and keyboard, and he also teaches saxophone and flute to beginners and intermediate players. Beyond his private studio in Collierville, he has run after-school music programs at four area schools — University of Memphis Campus School, Incarnation Catholic School, CTK Lutheran School, and Maria Montessori School — and continues to perform regularly with bands around Memphis across R&B, rock, pop, and jazz.
The thread that runs through almost every student review is what Sanders does not do: he does not front-load lessons with abstract theory before letting students touch real music. One long-term student described the experience plainly — you start on songs, and theory gets introduced as you actually need it. That sequencing appears to be a conscious pedagogical choice rather than a shortcut. Multiple parents of young students note that their children practice willingly and look forward to lessons, which is a specific and measurable outcome that tends to be harder to produce than raw skill gains.
“Mr John is a very experienced music teacher and has great knowledge of child psychology, he knows how to motivate kids and quickly picks up on their strengths and weaknesses.”
— Barbara, Collierville — parent of a 5-year-old piano student
Sanders accepts piano students starting at age seven and flute and saxophone students from age ten. He also offers group keyboard lessons for homeschooling groups and has experience coaching children in beginning rock and pop ensembles. For adult learners, his curriculum shifts toward improvisation, jazz theory, and chord chart application — practical skills drawn from his years of professional performance. He offers both in-studio lessons in Collierville and online sessions.
Across eight reviews, every rating is five stars. Students range from a shy eight-year-old trying guitar for the first time to a self-described advanced multi-instrumentalist who started on piano and eventually added saxophone, guitar, and flute. The consistency across age groups, instruments, and experience levels points to an adaptability that goes beyond any single teaching method.
“She always leaves her lessons with something to work on and with something she is proud of accomplishing. We are so glad to have him as a music instructor! She has come a long way in a short time because of him!”
— Joy Allen, Collierville — parent of a 9-year-old flute student
Interested in lessons with John? View the full profile and send a message directly.
View Profile →