« Browse All Instructors

Raquel Dominguez

Alto & Tenor Saxophone / Clarinet / Piano / Acoustic Guitar / Elementary Singing / Early Childhood Music / Composition / Music Appreciation

 Alto & Tenor Saxophone / Clarinet / Piano / Acoustic Guitar  / Early Childhood Music / Composition / Music Appreciation

Raquel Dominguez is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and music educator based in Los Angeles, California. She began playing alto saxophone, her first and primary instrument, at 12 years old in her middle school’s band program. Throughout high school and college, she remained active in various musical ensembles including wind ensemble, marching band, pep band, jazz/rock combo, and concert choir. Currently, most of her time is dedicated to teaching, composing, and practicing while she prepares for grad school.

In 2021, Raquel completed her AA in Music from Victor Valley College where she studied alto saxophone with Shane Sherrodd, music theory, musicianship, and voice. In 2023, she earned her BM in Composition from California State University Los Angeles under the mentorship of Dr. John M. Kennedy. During her senior year at Cal State LA, she became the first recipient of the James Newton Scholarship Award for Composition.

Professionally, Raquel has performed on alto saxophone with various music groups in the United States and Armenia, with her resume including playing orchestral hip-hop classics with Harmony Project’s Youth Orchestra to soloing blues and folk rock with the Cal State LA Classical Guitar Ensemble.

Ms. Raquel’s teaching principles stem from the core belief that anyone can become a great musician with the right tools; these tools are found through the development of a strong foundation in musicianship. Lessons are tailored to each student based on their understanding of musical ideas and their creative interests, initially with an emphasis on ear training, rhythm, pulse, and composition/improvisation. Once these skills are established, students will work with Ms. Raquel to explore sheet music and music theory on their instrument through a variety of activities and games, with the goal of building a repertoire. Music is a second language, and the goal is not simply to be able to read and “speak” it, but to understand it, deeply and confidently. Ms. Raquel provides students with tools that are transferable to any musical endeavor by fostering a solid understanding of the underlying concepts that constitute music.