Level 1

Objectives:  Develop essential skills including posture, embouchure, tone, music reading skills in 9 keys and simple improvisation skills.

Books and Resources to be selected from:

• Rubank Elementary Method for Saxophone
• Practice Record – a small book for recording weekly assignments
• Saxophone Note Speller
• Selected Duets vol. 1 – Voxman
• Basic Jazz Conception for Saxophone w/CD – Lennie Niehaus
• Band in a Box - (Computer Software) 
  

Level 2

Objectives:  Superior skills and tone, perform music in 12 keys, Improvisation skills in several styles (including swing, pop, rock and various ethnic styles), prepare auditions band and regional honor group, prepare and perform in solo/ensemble festival at local and perhaps state level.

Books and Resources to be selected from:

• Band in a Box (see above)
• Selected Studies -Vol. 1
• Ferling - 48 Etudes
  
• Intermediate Jazz Conception for Saxophone w/CD – Lennie Niehaus
• 15 Easy Jazz Blues Funk Etudes w/CD - Bob Mintzer
• Jamie Aebersold Series
  
  • Vol. 1 - How to Play Jazz and Improvise
    
  • Vol. 2 - Nothing But the Blues
  • Vol. 3 - ii-V7-I
  • Vol. 21 - Gettin' It Together
  • Vol. 24 - Major and Minor
  • Vol 54 - Maiden Voyage
  • Vol. 70 - Killer Joe

Band in a Box

Band in a Box is a software program that utilizes custom music tracks that are well suited for our purposes in learning the saxophone.  I have prepared many lessons that are available for you to download to accompany the student while practicing at the computer.  This allows for creative practicing where the student can change tempo, key and repeat phrases with a click of the mouse.

It is perfect for the high school jazz saxophonist who needs to have the resources to develop jazz styles and improvisation skills.

Get the Program

BB is available for download at PGmusic.com.  You will need a Windows PC with a speaker system.  Unfortunately at this time, the MacIntosh version is unsuitable for our purposes.  Here is the specific ordering page. 

You will just need the Pro version (currently $129).  The more expensive versions are very cool but not necessary.

You will also need to set up a gmail account to acquire the lesson files that I will make available to you.  Click here if you need to set up a gmail account.  Once you have the program installed go to the Software Setup page.

Solo/Ensemble Saxophone Repertoire

Here are some musical selections that are appropriate for solo/ensemble performance.  We will discuss a good choice for you in lessons.  Here is one resource where you can order these.  ClassicSax.com

Alto Saxophone

• Ibert - Aria (M)
• Rueff - Chanson et Passepied (M)
• Teal - Master Solos for Alto Saxophone (M)
• Teal - Solos for the Alto Saxophone Player (M)
• Bozza - Aria (MD)
• Bolling - Le Papillon (MD)
• Handel/Mule - Sonata No.1 (MD)
• Ibert/Mule - Histoire (MD)
• Rascher - The Rascher Collection (MD)
• Creston - Concerto for Alto Saxophone (D)
• Creston - Sonata (D
• Dubois - Concerto
• Glazounov - Concerto (D)
• Hartley - Concerto for Alto Saxophone (D)
• Heiden - Sonata (D)
• Ibert - Concertino da Camera (D)
• Rachmaninoff/Rousseau - Vocalise (D)

Tenor Saxophone

• Bach/Rascher - Govotte & Bouree (E)
• Classic Festival Solos Vol. 1 and/or 2 (E)  - also order the piano part
• Rascher - Time for Solos, Tenor Book 1 and/or 2 (E)
• Concert & Contest Collection (M) - also order the piano part
• Bernstein - Bernstein for Tenor Saxophone (MD)
• Galliard/Rascher - Sonata (MD)
• Rachmaninoff/Pittel - Vocalise (MD)
• Hartley - Sonata (D)
• Villa-Lobos - Fantasia (also excellent for soprano) (D)
• Vivaldi/Rascher - Sonata in G Minor