JAZZ PRINCLE INSTRUMENT STUDY: SAXOPHONE

2010
JAZZ

101,102,201,202,301,302

Technical Assessment 30%

Aims of this work
The purpose of this course is to develop in the student a strong
knowledge and practical ability of technical skills on the saxophone
necessary for Jazz performance.
The primary focus is sound production. This includes the study and
practical application of skills necessary for correct development of
saxophone embouchure and correct breathing / postural techniques.
Technical fluency and proficiency, intonation, Jazz rhythm, articulation,
aural skills and phrasing will also be covered and developed with the use
of set etudes/ scales/ transcriptions and other related exercises. This will
be reflected in the scale technical exams.
Development in Jazz style and improvisational approach will be
encouraged in the student with a strong regard for the history of the
instrument in the broad spectrum of the Jazz tradition. The development
of personal creativity/ voice and expression will also be encouraged, and
an effort will be made to encourage students in the development of their
own musical path in the context of clear technical foundation and
present and past Jazz tradition.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be expected to demonstrate

technical proficiency in the following scales, arpeggios and given tasks
and or etudes. NB Intonation, sound production, timing and technical
fluency will be graded.

Indicative Bibliography
Joe Viola
The Technique of the saxophone- Vol 1 and 2
H Klose 25 daily exercises for the saxophone
Dave Liebman Complete Guide to sound production DVD
Dave Liebman Developing A Personal Saxophone Sound
Jean Marie Londeix NOUVELLES ETUDES VARIEES

JAZZ 101 (Technical Requirements for Jazz Saxophone)

SCALES
All Major, Dorian Minor and Mixolydian at tempo crotchet = 110
All scales, two octaves where applicable - within the range of the horn
(Low Bb to High F), and subject to tutors discretion. Minimum
requirement for arpeggios etc one octave.
1.Up and down the scale to the Ninth.
2. Up scale to ninth and down arpeggio (1234567897531)
3. Up arpeggio to ninth and down scale (1357987654321)
4. All scales in Thirds (13,24,35,46,57,68,79,8- 86,75,64,53,42,31,27,1)
5. All scales with pattern (1342,3564,5786,793. 3879, 8657,6435,421 )
6. All major scales in pattern of mode arpeggios i.e.
1357,2468,3579,4683, 5794,6835, 7947 8. 8642, 7531, 6497, 5316,
4975, 3164, 97531.
7. Etude / technical studied subject to tutors discretion catering to the
needs of each student will be given.

JAZZ 102 (Technical Requirements for Jazz Saxophone).

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be expected to demonstrate

technical proficiency in the following scales, arpeggios and etudes. NB
Intonation, sound production; timing and technical fluency will influence
grading.
All scales to be played in quavers at minimum tempo Crotchet = 110
SCALES
All Major, Dorian Minor and Mixolydian minimum 1 octave.
1.Up and down the scale to the Ninth.
2. Up scale to ninth and down arpeggio (1234567897531)
3. Up arpeggio to ninth and down scale (1357987654321)
4. All scales in Thirds (13,24,35,46,57,68,79,8- 86,75,64,53,42,31,27,1)
5. All scales with pattern (1342,3564,5786,793. 3879, 8657,6435,421)
6. All major scales in pattern of mode arpeggios i.e.
1357,2468,3579,4683, 5794,6835, 7947 8. 8642, 7531, 6497,5316,
4975, 3164, 97531.
7a. All modes of the major scale to be played up to the 9th and back
down- e.g in the key of C : C Ionion, D Dorian, E Phrygian, F Lydian, G
Mixolydian, A Aeolian, B Locrian)
7b. All modes from any given note in order of increasing alteration.
ie - C Lydian, C Ionian, C Mixolydian, C Dorian, C Aoelian, C Phrygian, C
Locrian
8. Harmonic minor scale in all keys.
a. Up and down the scale to the Ninth. Two octaves where applicable.
b. Up scale to ninth and down arpeggio (1234567897531)
c. Up arpeggio to ninth and down scale (1357987654321)
9. Melodic minor ascending scale in all keys
a. Up and down the scale to the Ninth. Two octaves where applicable.
b. Up scale to ninth and down arpeggio (1234567897531)
c. Up arpeggio to ninth and down scale (1357987654321)
10. Etude / technical studied subject to tutors discretion catering to the
needs of each student.

JAZZ 201 (Technical Requirements for Saxophone)

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be expected to demonstrate

technical proficiency in the following scales, arpeggios and etudes. NB
Intonation, sound production; timing and technical fluency will influence
grading.

1. Repeat (If asked) all 102 requirements, but at tempo Crotchet =140
2. Learn all diatonic triads for Major, Harmonic Minor, and Melodic Minor
scales
ie. 135,246,357 etc - also 135,642,357,864 etc
3. Altered scale in all keys. Altered to be arpeggiated
1,3,#5,b7,#9,b7,#5,3,1
4. Locrian #2 to be played in all keys and arpeggiated
1,b3,b5,b7,9,b7,b5,b3,1
5. Diminished scale in all keys. Start scales on low Bb, B, and C and play
to high E,
F and F# and down again. Play arpeggio (to range of horn).
6. Etude: This is subject to tutors discretion.
NB - Sight reading may be tested

7. SCALE TEST EXERCISE

At crotchet = 80 in Quavers
All keys
Major, Dorian Minor, Dominant
You must be able to play these patterns on above chords in all keys, and
random.
In any chord order

13579753
12345678
5321
7531
1357
9753
EXAMPLE
Play above patterns at crotchet = 80 for the following chord progression
(for the test, this can be any combination of 36 major, Dorian Minor,
Mixolydian Chords.
EXAMPLE PROGRESSION

C7, Db-7 FMajor, Bb7, EbMajor, E -7, Ab7,A-7, Bb Major7, C7, FMinor7,
D7, Gb-7,B-, E7,F-,E-7, DbMajor, F#Major--- etc
Practice - practice random combinations of 36 chords

JAZZ 202 (Technical Requirements for Saxophone) . NB Intonation,

sound production, timing and technical fluency will influence grading.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be expected to demonstrate

technical proficiency in the following scales and arpeggios and given
tasks.
All scales to be played in quavers at minimum tempo Crotchet = 140
NB Students must also be prepared to play all of 201 scale requirements
if asked (Not Etude / bop head)
When asked to play in all keys student can choose how to go about this
(cycle of fourths or chromatic)
SCALES
1. All scales as in 201 but better.
2. All Major, Harmonic minor and Melodic minor scales in diatonic 4ths.
ie. 14,25,36,47 etc - also 14,52,36,74 etc
3. Lydian Augmented scale in all keys one octave and arpeggiated
135797531; also 753171357

4. Lydian Dominant scale in all keys, to be played up arpeggio- down

scale, up scale - down arpeggio.

5. DIMINISHED WORKOUT
a. All Diminished scales (Whole / half) in 3rds within the range of the
horn (and beyond if possible).
- Also pattern 1342,3564 etc
b. In triads 135,246,357 etc
- Also 135,642,357,864 etc
c. Additional patterns at teachers discretion.
6. Etude/Task This is subject to teachers discretion.
** Four choruss of Coltranes Giant Steps solo to be learnt to tempo or
close to it subject to students ability.
(Memorization not required but encouraged)

7. SCALE TEST EXERCISE

As In 201, but at crotchet = 100 in Quavers
In all keys - Major, Dorian Minor, Dominant (repeat of 201)
But add to the mix Half Diminished (eg. C-7b5 Locrian #2)- Natural 9
NB - This will be a different progression, so keep practicing!

JAZZ 301
1. Any core requirement from 101,102,201,202 pertaining to your year on demand and good.
2. All root scales (ie. Maj, Mel min, Har min) in pattern of mode
arpeggios i.e. 1357,2468,3579,4683, 5794,6835, 7947 8. 8642, 7531,
6497,5316, 4975, 3164, 97531.
- Also 1357,8642,3579, 3864, 5794,5386,7947 8.8642,1357,6427,6835,4275,4683,2753 1.

3. Chord Linking Exercises

You make your own path, decisions for arpeggio linking through all
common chord qualities-IE I will ask for a specified start point and
general pattern /shape, but the chord order will be random. NB

practicing random chord progressions will give you interesting ideas for
composition.
Example Chord progression CMaj7#5, B-7, A-9b5, D7#9#11,EbMin7, Eb9#11, C7#11,EMajor,
Example possibilities a. Arpeggiate up first chord, down next chord, from logical axis points
(you dont have to end on tonic, or 9th, but create spontaneously)
b. Arpeggiate down only from the 9th of each chord (In your own way)
c. Arpeggiate up only from root of each chord
d. Make an arpeggiated line starting from the 3,5th or 7th of each chord,
down, up or both
e. Play arpeggiated lines any way you wish through the said progression
f. Improvise a line that moves between the tonic of the first chord , to
the 5th of the next
---remember--- all of you will have different pathsI will be listening for
the changes, and looking for evidence of chord knowledge. These are
only possible examples- you need to write out all sorts of combinations
and get good at this.
BASICALLY this will be a test of your ability to play through random
progressions, and the aim is to get you hip with all possibilities that
may be thrown at you, and make sure you are familiar very familiar with
all possible Jazz chords.
4. OPTIONAL ETUDE
Either a. Lyric Exercise
Learn by memory a bob head, Parker, Tristano or modern that is based
on a standard. Learn (by memory) the original melody, changes and
lyrics, and the story between the original tune (where from etc) and that
of the head (eg Charlie Parker wrote Hot House over What Is This Thing
Called Love), and that was funny.
Suggested examples:
*Moose the Mooch- I got rhythm
*Hot House- What is this thing
*Subconscious lee- What is this thing
*Donna Lee- Indianna
*How High the Moon - Ornithology

b. Melody Phrasing Assignment

A Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holliday, Sarah Vaughan or similar
transcription. This is a transcription of a melody- a standard. It is to be
transcribed learnt and played on your instrument, with full emphasis on
phrasing etc. To be written out as accurately as possible.
--- Bonus point if student can also sing it!