Keith Saunders

Keith Saunders (He/Him) is a Lecturer in the Music Theory and Musicianship and Roots, Jazz, and American Music departments at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM). With a career spanning decades, he has performed and recorded with renowned jazz artists including Eddie Harris, Joe Lovano, and Horace Silver, while leading his own ensemble, the NY HardBop Quintet.

• Undergraduate: Empire State College

Saunders specializes in jazz education, improvisation, and music theory, with a particular emphasis on the bebop tradition and classical piano technique. His teaching philosophy incorporates rigorous technical practice, classical repertoire study, and deep engagement with jazz history. He has collaborated extensively with vocalists, lyricists, and jazz ensembles, composing original works and arranging recordings for artists like Elena Basano.

Saunders studied under influential mentors Cora Upp, Charlie Shoemake, and Terry Trotter, shaping his approach to jazz pedagogy. His career milestones include a pivotal move from Los Angeles to New York City in 1984, followed by a relocation to the Bay Area in 2010, where he continues to contribute to the jazz community through performance and education.

Outside music, he expresses passion for sports, literature, and film. His humorous remark about dental insurance as an unrealized project highlights his candid perspective on the practical challenges of a musician's life.