Further developing the technical aspects of the students' musicianship in the broadest sense of the word, as well as stimulating their musical awareness and personal taste in music. Students will be able to apply the acquired instrument skills and and theory knowledge in in their band performances and improvisations, demonstrating their ability to incorporate increasingly complex structures with respect to harmony, melody, rhythm and musical form. They will be able to play ca. 60 standards or self-chosen pieces by heart and to improvise over them.

The contents of the main subject lessons are for the most part tailored to the technical exam and, from the second semester onwards, to the year 3-4 transition exam, which means they are slightly more isolated from the other performance and theory modules than in previous years

TECHNIQUE:
In-depth study of the different elements of the technical exam, rehearsal of other important aspects. See the sheet "Technical Exam" for more details.
Classical saxophone études, e.g., Bozza: études-caprices, Lacour: 28 études pour saxophone (sur les modes limitées d’Oliver Messiaen), Klosé : 15 études concertantes.
READING SKILLS:
Herb Geller: Duets
Joseph Viola: Rhythm Studies
Big band parts: Thad Jones, Bob Mintzer and Toshiko Akiyoshi.
IMPROVISATION:
Inside and outside playing.
Rhythm changes: harmonic variations, melodic repertoire.
Cherokee and Coltrane changes.
Motivic improvisation and melodic development.
pacing.
rhythm variations.
tempo variations.
pentatonic.
odd meters.
triad pairs.
improvising over complex chord progressions, e.g., Lazy Bird, Moment's Notice, Giant Steps, Nefertiti, Very Early, Stablemates, Woody 'n You.
In-depth study of self-chosen transcriptions (incl. playing by heart).
REPERTOIRE:
Up-tempo pieces, e.g., Oleo, Anthropology, I Hear a Rhapsody, Just One of Those Things, The Way You Look Tonight, The Song Is You;
Ballads, e.g., Round Midnight, Peace, Soul Eyes, Ruby My Dear;
Original compositions by the student.
Modern jazz: Inner Urge, Wayne Shorter compositions, pieces by other contemporary jazz composers.
Fusion: e.g., Some Skunk Funk, Chromazone, Driftin', Freedom Jazz Dance.
It is allowed to focus on writing and studying original compositions rather than on studying existing pieces.

Individual lessons and (as agreed with the instructor) big band lessons, group lessons and section rehearsals.

Real Books, Aebersold Play-a-Longs, Band-in-a-Box or Garage Band Software, Herb Geller Duets, various classical études, recordings of the pieces to be played.

Organizing a short performance (band, repertoire, rehearsals) as part of the annual Jazz & Pop student concert; independently organizing a performance (five pieces) for the year 3-4 transition audition exam.

Examination and assessment

Assessment by the main subject instructor at the end of each semester. A technical exam (an audition for a panel consisting of two examiners) is part of the assessment procedure.

The student should have mastered the elements described under Aims. Specific criteria are: creativity, expression, improvisation, technique, sound, intonation, timing, reading skills, repertoire knowledge, progress, self-reflection, session participation, attitude and lesson preparation.
Technical exam:
1. Scales: major, harmonic and melodic minor, diminished, augmented, pentatonic, altered. Capable of easily playing the scales over the entire range of the saxophone range and in different patterns or variations;
2. Chords: Triads and tetrads. Major, minor, diminished, augmented, half diminished, dominant 7 Chomatic and circle of 5ths;
3. Intervals: Playing all the intervals in different shapes and patterns;
4. Classical Etude;
5. Playing a solo transcription;
6. Playing a standard of your own choice without accompaniment.

The student has completed this module if being awarded a minimum grade of 5.5 by the instructor as well as for the technical exam at the end of the second semester.

At the end of both semesters the instructor fills out an assessment form designed specifically for this module. Assessment is comprised of a verbal evaluation and a concluding grade. The instructor reviews this assessment with the student during the first subsequent lesson.

During the spring semester a technical exam is part of the assessment procedure. Examiners use an outline of relevant criteria to assess students, with the average grade being used as the final grade.

Assessment at the end of the autumn semester is formative and expressed in terms of satisfactory/unsatisfactory. It indicates a student's progress in this module. No ECs are awarded and there is no resit. Modules can only be absolved, and ECs awarded, after the end of the spring semester.

Main Subject Saxophone Jazz & Pop 3

Form / content / level

Examination and assessment

Module summary