Dr. JD Little is an Associate Professor of Music at Cameron University in Lawton, OK where he teaches lessons on applied flute, clarinet, and saxophone. JD also directs the Cameron University Jazz Ensemble, the Lawton Jazz Orchestra, and the Aggie Jazz Ensemble, plus teaches theory and ear-training courses. JD attended Ohio University earning a bachelor’s degree in Saxophone Performance, studying under Dr. Matthew James. While at OU, JD studied classical and jazz saxophone plus began his studies on flute and clarinet.
Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, JD attended the University of North Texas where he earned a master’s degree in Saxophone Performance with a related field in Jazz Studies. While at UNT, he performed and recorded with the UNT Wind Symphony under the direction of Eugene Corporon. He can be heard on Homage and Urban Dreams, albums recorded by the UNT Wind Symphony. In addition to JD’s classical studies, he continued his jazz education by taking advantage of everything UNT had to offer. JD studied jazz theory, jazz piano, jazz history, jazz pedagogy, improvisation, and played lead alto saxophone in the lab bands.
In the fall of 2012, JD began work on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Saxophone Performance and Pedagogy degree from the University of Colorado-Boulder under the guidance of Professor Tom Myer. JD’s dissertation is titled, “Developing a Multi-Instrumentalist: A Pedagogical Approach to Woodwind Performance for Flute, Clarinet, and Saxophone; Including Historical Information and Exercises.” JD completed his DMA in 2016.
An avid performer, JD has worked with the Lawton Philharmonic, Boulder Philharmonic, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony, the 77th Army Band, the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, and various jazz combos and funk bands. In 2014, JD shared the stage with Railroad Earth at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, CO, with a crowd of over 10,000 people. A DVD/CD is commercially available of this performance. With experience as a woodwind artist, JD also enjoys playing in pit orchestras, playing for nearly 40 shows, and the favorite being West Side Story. Additional performance credits include The Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas, Mary Wilson, and the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra.
JD's saxophone teachers include: Professor Tom Myer, Dr. John Gunther, Dr. Eric Nestler, Professor Jim Riggs and Dr. Matthew James. He studied flute under Dr. Valorie Estes-Johnson, and Dr. Ana-Laura Gonzalez. Clarinet with Professor Dan Silver and Dr. Jessica Vansteenburg. JD has also taken additional private lessons with woodwind artists such as Dan Higgins, Sal Lozano, and Bob Sheppard.