Dr. Steven Garrison
Playing Music. Teaching Music. Building Its Future.
The Origin
Dr. Steven Garrison’s journey with music began in childhood through church and community experiences where music served as both expression and connection. When he picked up the saxophone in the fifth grade, the instrument immediately resonated with him. Its expressive tone and emotional range felt like a natural extension of his voice.
What began as curiosity quickly grew into a calling. Through school ensembles, church performances, private instruction, and mentorship from seasoned musicians, Steven developed both his musical skill and a deeper understanding of music’s power to move people and build community. Those formative experiences shaped the philosophy that continues to guide his work today: music is not simply performance—it is a pathway to identity, confidence, and purpose.
The Mastery
Over the years, Dr. Garrison has built a dynamic career as a professional saxophonist whose sound blends jazz, R&B, soul, and gospel traditions. He currently serves as the saxophonist for Grammy Award–winning vocalist Regina Belle and has performed with a number of respected artists across the contemporary jazz and soul landscape, including Oli Silk, Althea Rene, Marcus Anderson, Rahsaan Patterson, Kevin Ross, and Julian Vaughn.
His performance career has taken him to stages across the United States and internationally, including appearances at venues such as the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre and the Keystone Korner in Baltimore. Through these collaborations and performances, he has developed a reputation for a soulful tone, high-energy performances, and the ability to connect deeply with audiences.
As the founder of Steven Garrison Music, LLC, he leads the Steven Garrison Experience, a musical collective known for its vibrant live shows and genre-blending sound. His artistry reflects a commitment to authenticity, musical excellence, and the timeless tradition of storytelling through music.
The Turn
While building his career as a performing artist, Dr. Garrison began noticing a troubling gap in how music was taught. Many young musicians had passion and potential but lacked access to culturally relevant instruction, mentorship, and creative opportunities that reflected the music they actually listened to and wanted to create.
Traditional music education often centered on a narrow set of styles and outdated instructional models, leaving many students disconnected from the learning process.
This realization led him to education.
As a music educator in the DC Metropolitan Area, at a Title I school serving a historically underserved community, Dr. Garrison designs joyful, culturally responsive learning experiences that introduce students to music as both an art form and a tool for personal expression. His classroom emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and confidence, helping students discover their voice through music.
For Dr. Garrison, education became more than a profession; it became a mission to expand access and opportunity through the arts.
The Innovation
Determined to help reshape the future of music education, Dr. Garrison earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Technology and began exploring how technology could transform the way music is taught and experienced.
His research examines how traditional music curricula can unintentionally exclude contemporary genres, digital production, and emerging creative technologies. Through qualitative research with K–12 music educators, he is studying how music programs can become more inclusive, technologically integrated, and reflective of today’s creative industries.
In addition to his research, Dr. Garrison is developing initiatives that explore the intersection of music, artificial intelligence, and digital learning environments, including AI-supported tutoring tools and technology-enhanced learning platforms designed to help students and educators engage with music in new ways.
By combining artistry, education, and innovation, his work seeks to build systems that expand access to music education while empowering the next generation of musicians and creators.
The Mission
At the heart of Dr. Garrison’s work is a simple belief: “Music has the power to transform lives.”
Through performance, education, research, and innovation, his mission is to expand access to meaningful musical experiences for young people and aspiring creatives. He is committed to helping the next generation of musicians develop not only technical skill but also identity, confidence, and purpose through the arts.
For Dr. Garrison, success is not measured only by performance or accolades. It is seen in students who discover their voice, musicians who find their path, and communities that grow stronger through the power of music.
Whether on stage, in the classroom, or through innovative educational initiatives, Dr. Steven Garrison continues to build bridges between artistry, learning, and community, using music as the foundation for transformation.