Carlos Serra is an NYC-based musician and educator who offers an international perspective. He taught clarinet, piano, and saxophone to an array of students at four music schools in the Netherlands before moving to NYC to pursue his master’s degree.
Whether engaging with an energetic six-year-old or with a curious adult, Carlos approaches teaching by balancing clear instruction and practical exercises with a contagious joy for music-making.
“I love seeing the spark in my students' eyes when playing music becomes easier and more intuitive after each lesson, and I love immersing myself in the world of music and bringing it closer to every student.”
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After falling in love with music by listening to his pianist grandmother in her living room, Carlos began his studies in classical clarinet at age six. He later added the alto saxophone and piano to his repertoire. At 17, after recording his two first jazz albums as co-leader, he moved to the Netherlands to pursue his passion, earning a degree in jazz clarinet from the prestigious Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
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Carlos has extended experience as the leader of both a trio and a Hot-Club style quartet, and has performed at Festival de jazz de Vic, Jamboree Jazz, Festival de Jazz de Palma, and other European and North-American venues. He recently moved to New York City to pursue his master’s degree at The City College of New York under the mentorship of Dan Block.
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