Jazz - Saxophone

  1. General objectives of the specialization

Students acquire professional knowledge and general music literacy, which makes them suitable for performing their professional qualifications.

General tasks of the specialization::

Explain to the student  the play mode required for high-end musical expression and professional instrument management, and to make sure that the playing modes and the musical concept are coherent; develop the musical abilities of the students, their rhythm sensation, their music, musical memory, creative talent and performances; to develop the ability of thinking, self-directed spiritual control, the need for constant self-cultivation; explain the context of musical instrument and musical performance; describe the main styles of the instrument’s literature; make it receptive to the reception of contemporary music; learn how to play instrumental music , improve the moral characteristics of the students (will, endurance, etc.), aesthetic sense, shape your personality.

  1. Content of the course

Admission requirements

Classical

  1. Major and harmonic minor scales in various tempo and playing techniques (staccato, legato) in the following major keys and the parallel minor keys: C, G, D, A, E, B, F sharp, F, B flat, E flat, A flat, D flat.
  2. Performance of one piece for clarinet or flute from sheet music or memory, not deviating from the original style.

Jazz

  1. Solo performance of 3 popular jazz standards in 3 different (slow, medium, fast) tempi and of different styles (ballade, Latin, swing, duple metre and odd-numbered metre). The structure is to be theme – improvisation – theme. A piano accompanist is provided by the examination committee, however, the applicant is asked to bring the sheet music of the piano accompaniment.
  2. Performance of a part (1 or 2 periods) of a noted down improvisation, not deviating from the sheet music. It can only be of a notable saxophone artist’s performance (Parker, Gordon, Coltrane, Brecker, etc). A copy of the sheet music is to be submitted to the examination committee. (If the applicant cannot get hold of such a sheet music, materials are available for borrowing and photocopying at the Saxophone Sub-Department of the Jazz Department).
  3. Performance of approx. 10 popular jazz standards as a repertoire, from memory, in original harmonization. (themes with appropriate stylistic phrasing; improvisation to be added to 2 or 3 of the pieces)
  4. Blues improvisation with simple harmonies, in various tempo, in three keys (C, F, B flat major).
  5. Sight-reading of a motif handed to the applicant at the examination, preferably with phrasing appropriate for the style.
  1. Breakdown in Semesters of the Course , Control method
  1. semester: 

Technical training; Scales: C, F, G, Bb Major and Moll; the breakdown of their diatonic harmony, race with classical and jazz phrasion; parallel to the scales from the J. Viola school to learning etudes; Style exercises, music training.
Bob Mintzer: 14 Blues and Funk Etudes 1-5. etude; Charlie Parker’s Omnibook volume 6-8 performs 3-4 transcripts with the original recording;Developing Improvement Skills; Recognizing and learning patterns of simpler swing and bebop motifs based on transcripts and their own ideas (II-V-I, III-VI-II-V, etc.); the play of these patterns is sequentially sequentially; Repertoire knowledge: 10 simpler standards, Blues

2. semester: 

Technical training; Scales: D, Eb, A, Ab, and moll; the breakdown of their diatonic harmony, race with classical and jazz phrasion; parallel to the scales from the J. Viola school to learning etudes; Style exercises, music training.

Bob Mintzer: 14 Blues and Funk Etudes 6-10. etude; Charlie Parker Omnibook volume 6-8 performing pieces; Preparation and presentation of 4 complete transcripts along with the original recording; Developing Improvement Skills; the elaboration of harmonic changes in standard numbers with modal and altered scales, the recognition of simple non-cadence harmonies after hearing – the improvisation of the major and moll blues in every tone. Repertoire knowledge: 10 simpler standards, Blues

3. semester: 

Technical training; scales: E, Db, H, Gb major and moll; the breakdown of their diatonic harmony, race with classical and jazz phrasion; parallel to the scales from the J. Viola school to learning etudes; Style exercises, music training.

Bob Mintzer: 14 Blues and Funk Etudes 11-14. etude; Charlie Parker Omnibook volume 6-8 performing pieces; Preparation and presentation of 4 complete transcripts along with the original recording; Developing Improvement Skills; cadences of harmony with substitutions (III-bIII-II-bII-I etc.); bound, unimproved improvisation on given harmonic strings, standard play (so-called “leg-toy”), simpler standards in twelve sounds Repertoire knowledge: 10 standard and blues

  1. semester: 

Technical training; Scales: F #, Cb, C # major and moll; the breakdown of their diatonic harmony, race with classical and jazz phrasion; parallel to the scales from the J. Viola school to learning etudes; Style exercises, music training.

Bob Mintzer: 14 Jazz and Funk Etudes 1-5. etude; Charlie Parker Omnibook volume 8-10 performing pieces; Preparation and presentation of 4 complete transcripts along with the original recording; Developing Improvement Skills; knowledge of quartos (sus) harmony, incorporation of pentatonic scales, motivational play; substitution of pentatones into different blues harmonics; improvisational exercises with rhythmic constraints (eg motive starts from a specific place within the stroke); the improvisation is structured with shorter (5-6 loud), varied rhythmic melodies.

Repertoire knowledge: 10 pieces of heavier harmonization with standard, modern blues

5-6. semester: 

Technical training; chromatic play of scale exercises; the play of the given patterns is based on the chromatic and sound scale, the voices of various chords, and the rotation and reflection of these motifs;
the modern jazz chord and scale set – axis system; Style Exercises, Music Training;

Bob Mintzer: 14 Jazz and Funk Etudes 6-10. etude; Charlie Parker Omnibook volume 8-10 performing pieces; Preparation and presentation of 4 complete transcripts along with the original recording;

Developing Improvement Skills;
the use of technical training tools in improvisation; in-out playing, standards play in all tones
Repertoire knowledge: 10 pieces of heavier rhythm standard

7-8. semester: 

Technical training; Chromatic play of chord and scale exercises; rhythmically complicated patterns play on the chromatic and full-scale scale, the voices of various chords, and the rotation and reflection of these motifs; Style exercises, music training.
Bob Mintzer: 14 Jazz and Funk Etudes 11-14. etude; Charlie Parker Omni book volume 8-10 performing pieces; Preparation and presentation of 4 complete transcripts along with the original recording; Developing Improvement Skills; knowledge of the different trends of modern jazz, improvisations in odd metrums; transform and play standards in unmatched metrics. Repertoire knowledge: 10 pieces of heavier harmonization and rhythmic standards

Compulsory literature

  • Joseph Viola: The Technique of the Saxophone Vol. II.
  • Charlie Parker: Omnibook
  • Bob Mintzer: 14 Blues and Funk Etudes
  • Bob Mintzer: 14 Jazz and Funk Etudes
  •  Jamey Aebersold: Play Along series

 

Recommended literature

  • Hal Crook: How to Improvise
  • Jerry Bergonzi: Inside Improvisation Series Vol. 1 – 6
  • Gary Campbell: Triad Pairs for Jazz
  • Gary Campbell: Expansions