Mission Statement The purpose of this workshop is to assist the progressing saxophonist. This will be achieved by studying three areas; fundamentals, literature, and history. Special emphasis will be given to issues of articulation, technique and breathing with additional emphasis placed on the saxophone as a solo, chamber, and large ensemble instrument.
About the Saxophone Workshop
This is a unique opportunity for young saxophonists (grade 7-12) to go beyond their work in school ensembles to explore what the saxophone has to offer. The instrument has a young but rich history, and unlike most other instruments the saxophones' possibilities are evolving before our very eyes.
During the workshop students will play their horns in virtually every class. Students will also be teamed together to form quartets in which they will work on music of all styles. There is a wealth of music for saxophone quartet from classical transcriptions, like the fugues of Bach, to contemporary original works and jazz quartets by Lenny Niehaus, Sammy Nestico and Phil Woods. A saxophone quartet is very practical and something that students will be able to arrange at their schools. It is in a group like this that students thrive because they no longer feel like a number in a group. They play a part independent from the other three and must rely on their own musical abilities for success. The result is exhilarating for all involved.
Aside from improving performance skills, students will gain an understanding of the history of the saxophone, from its invention in Belgium in 1838 by famed instrument maker Adolphe Sax to its migration to the United States where it was a major influence on the evolution of jazz through men like Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Gerry Mulligan.
This workshop is primarily designed to get students playing and this is what they will enjoy the most. They will find out that their instrument is important outside of concert band and that playing a solo or in a small group is not a once a year event, but something that can be extremely rewarding on a regular basis.
The three-day workshop concludes with a concert featuring all saxophone quartets and selected soloists.
This workshop requires students to prepare a solo from the repertoire list prior to the first day. In addition, a packet of music including an assigned saxophone quartet part will be mailed to each student for preparation.
