Coffee cup in one hand, sheet music in the other, and a whistled tune of jazz in perfect pitch. If you’ve spent any considerable amount of time at MacPhail, odds are you’ve run into the institution that is Greg Keel.
It’s very rare, if you know Greg, to walk past him without receiving a personable greeting and a story. Having played saxophone for over 20 years with the likes of Aretha Franklin and The Temptations, and having been taught by Ruben Haugen (long-tenured MacPhail Faculty member in the 1950s), Eugene Russeau, and more, Greg is full of stories. But that is only part of the unique phenom that is Greg Keel. This year, he marks 31 years of teaching over 500 students at the nation’s largest community music school.
Where did the spark of inspiration originate that has resulted in over 30 years of teaching and performing?
“I first heard my father play saxophone when I was a young child and past my college years, so he played saxophone his whole life. He enlisted in officers’ training as a member of what is now the U.S. Air Force and played in the swing dance orchestra. He was my first inspiration. My mother was an elementary school teacher who also played piano. My father got out of the University of Minnesota graduate school as a dentist. One of his patients became my piano teacher. I was not a very good pianist, but it was a great musical start. My dad’s jazz group rehearsed in our basement, and as a little kid, I’d go down there in my pajamas at night and fall asleep. Listening to my dad’s group play…I was so enthusiastic to hear this wonderful music and the music of the saxophone. So, my parents were my first inspiration.”
Though unique, Greg is not alone in this long-standing relationship with MacPhail. In fact, 56 faculty members have been at MacPhail for over 20 years, with the longest tenured member being piano instructor Guna Skujina, who marks an incredible and celebratory 52 years.
What Greg, like so many other faculty members at MacPhail, new and old, have in common is an elevated expertise in both performance and education, plus a passion and knack for teaching. MacPhail is the largest employer of musicians in the state of Minnesota, with over 210 faculty members. So, much like Greg, there are talented faculty in every department who have dedicated their lives to the transformative power of music. This high level of expertise and dedication, however, does not stop these world-class teaching artists from being warm and approachable, with many teaching beginners and advanced students alike, from children to adults.
What would you say to someone who might feel nervous or intimidated about starting music lessons as an adult beginner or just a beginner in general?
“We have a mission to start where the student is at on their musical journey. We get acquainted, get a plan, and start with three notes. No pressure. You’ll find we’re going to have fun, because the reason we want to play is all of the great things music gives us – harmony, melody, and more. Teaching adults is just a thrill.”
Positivity, patience, and preparation go a long way in Greg’s teaching style.
Any advice for those looking to return to music after many years away?
“For many who have come back to an instrument, seeing the joy and improvement of those who played after high school or college, or at the pro level, and then left it, is so gratifying to help with refocus. It’s exhilarating to hear the change.”
So what’s the secret to teaching so many students of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels for all these years?
“I remember my own progress – how I went from elementary onward, the teachers who inspired me, and the music I’ve listened to. Start where the student is at. I want students to enjoy the process and know what to do so well technically that they can enjoy playing in the moment.”
Having taught over 500 students, Greg teaches students across multiple ages and skill levels, from teens to adults and beginner to advanced students. Some of his students simply want to learn to play, while others have gone on to perform with Michael Jackson and more.
As for teaching at MacPhail, “A perfect match between student and teacher happens here. I believe, everybody on this faculty is so wonderful at starting where the student is at right now, in that musical journey, and that’s really important”.
If you want to experience the rare jazz-related relics that line his studio or learn from the saxophone master himself, you’re in luck. Greg is taking in new students in fall 2026 who are ready to learn anything from Mozart to Miles Davis.
You can also catch him leading MacPhail’s Adult Jazz Combo for those who want to stay sharp or just jam. If you want to catch the power of his performance, you can find him on stage at Bunkers, Minnesota Music Café, or Crooners if you’re lucky.
If you’re thinking of starting or restarting your music journey on any instrument, lessons are available on 35+ instruments and voice on a rolling basis, so you can get started at any time (though there’s no time like the present).
The right teacher makes all the difference. Teachers like Greg, are that difference. Learn more about MacPhail’s faculty and how to register for lessons, classes, and more at macphail.org.