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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nConcert Jazz and Improv VI Ensembles with their 2nd place trophies (Source: Saskia Sommer)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In high school, Christensen was surrounded by people who encouraged him to pursue music. His friends were musicians and writers, many with similar aspirations to pursue creative, non-traditional careers. His \u201cvery liberal and cool\u201d mom, Christensen explains, was supportive of his career aspirations and encouraged her son to give it a go. In high school, Christensen spent his summers working as a counselor at a Boys Scout camp in the Sierra Nevada mountains. He remembers to this day what a co-counselor, who played the guitar and saxophone, once said to him: \u201cIf you don\u2019t try to be a musician, you will always wonder your whole life if you could\u2019ve done it or not.\u201d Christensen took those words to heart and from that moment on, knew he would pursue his dream of moving to New York to be a musician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a kid, Christensen knew many family members that were teachers, including both of his parents. He quickly realized he shared this love of teaching. \u201cIn late high school and early college, there would be the occasional student that would want lessons, like some middle schooler that would want me to help them out. And I always just really enjoyed it,\u201d he explains. After attending the Eastman School of Music, the University of Rochester\u2019s music school, Christensen taught at a public school in Rochester for 3 years. Then when he moved to New York, he had \u201cthese weird little gigs\u201d teaching jazz bands and holding music lessons, but Christsen wanted more. These jobs didn\u2019t allow him to be super involved in any school or community. Christensen explains that in his first few years in New York, he thought, \u201cMan, what I\u2019d really like is a place where I can really be involved with the students, get to know them, make a difference, and be a part of the community.\u201d One day in 1991, looking through the career section of the New York Times, Christensen came across Fieldston. Christensen eventually became TC and the rest is history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While most Fieldston students know TC for his charm or simply his recognizable nickname, most don\u2019t truly understand his incredible skills and accomplishments. I\u2019ve been TC\u2019s student for five years now, and there is truly nothing like listening to him play. He effortlessly rips through scales and solos, each note blending perfectly into the next.\u00a0 Improv IV student Rohann Moresky-Madhavan (VI) says, \u201cTC’s dedication to practicing his instrument inspires others to also devote time and effort to honing their crafts.\u201d When teaching, TC\u2019s music theory knowledge and musical IQ shines through. He also has the ability to play and transcribe music completely by ear, something both musicians and non-musicians know is a rare talent.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jazz students also know that TC\u2019s talents extend beyond his saxophone abilities. Over the years, he has learned many different instruments, encouraging his students to the same. He learned to play the piano as a child, and after picking up the saxophone, learned to play the flute, clarinet and oboe in high school and college. These abilities proved to be great for the Broadway scene, where he played many different woodwind instruments. Christensen explains that he has developed his drums and electric bass skills since he began working at Fieldston. Explaining his ability to pick up instruments, he says, \u201cIt\u2019s like languages. It gets easier the more you learn.\u201d He continues, \u201cIt\u2019s not all hard work. I think people have a propensity toward music\u2026 It\u2019s an ability to hear music and translate it, it\u2019s motor skills, it\u2019s an ability to decode written music\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n