M-JP-SAX3

Practical Classes

14

1

30

One 50-minute lesson per week

26 hours

283 hours

Completion of M-JP-SAX2.

See Competencies Matrix.

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 level of instrument proficiency is in line with the compulsory and optional band lessons (Elective Band), theory lessons and reflects the current stage of one’s artistic research.

"TECHNIQUE:
In year 3 there will be a technical exam, see the sheet “Technical Exam (link)”. In order to get there, in the years before partial assignments will take place in order to spread the study load:
Year 1:
By the end of semester 1: Playing all major scales over the full range of the instrument (16th notes on 100bpm) with legato and jazz phrasing. By the end of semester 2: Playing all harmonic and melodic minor scales over the full range of the instrument (16th notes on 100bpm) with legato and jazz phrasing. Playing thirds and fourths of all scales over the full range of the instrument (16th notes on 100bpm) with legato and jazz phrasing.
Year 2:
By the end of semester 1: Playing whole tone and octatonic scales over the full range of the instrument (16th notes on 100bpm) with legato and jazz phrasing. By the end of semester 2: Arpeggios of major, minor, augmented and diminished triads and tetrads; selecting a number of II-V licks and memorizing them in all keys.
Year 3:
Repeating and speeding up alle the scales and arpeggios, being able to play everything in 16th notes at 120bpm, technical exam

READING SKILLS:
Herb Geller: Duets
Joseph Viola: Rhythm Studies
Advanced big band parts by composers such as: Thad Jones, Bob Mintzer and Toshiko Akiyoshi.

IMPROVISATION:
Continuing to work on improvisation and developing an own style and/ore specialisation in a certain style and/or era. It is also possible to focus on writing and studying original compositions rather than on studying existing pieces as long as the students will be challenged and are making progress in finding their own voice. Here are some examples of the aimed difficulty level:
Inside and outside playing, Rhythm Changes: harmonic variations, melodic repertoire, Coltrane changes, motivic improvisation and melodic development, 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, Cherokee.
In-depth study of self-written transcriptions (incl. playing by heart).

REPERTOIRE:

In-depth study of advanced and/or uptempo standards and originals by other composers and saxophonists. Focussing on writing and playing own music and experimenting with different composing techniques and styles."

Individual and occasional group lessons.

Real Books, Aebersold Play-a-Longs, iReal and similar.

Organizing a short performance (band, repertoire, rehearsals) as part of the annual Jazz & Pop student concert (f.e. “saxophone night” or session opener). independently organizing a performance (five pieces) for the year 3-4 transition audition exam.

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.

See the Education and Assessment Plan.