UA Saxophone Studio

Juries/Levels

Saxophonists are required to perform a jury for the entire woodwind faculty at the completion of the Spring Semester. Juries/Level performances are recorded as a final exam for studio lessons, and will include all of the material covered during the course of the semester, including skills, etudes and repertoire. Juries will be graded and will count as three lesson grades. See “Jury and Level Requirements” for a semester-by- semester breakdown.

Skill Requirements for Saxophone Juries and Levels

Semester 1-2 - Required Skills

Semester 1:
-Mechanism Exercises (from studio coursepack)
-Chromatic Scale in 16ths-full range demonstrating all alternate fingerings
-Major scales full range through 4 accidentals
-Minor (natural, harmonic, melodic) scales full range through 4 accidentals
-Major and Minor arpeggios through 4 accidentals
-Major and Minor Scales in 3rds through 4 accidentals (Londeix Les Gammes)
-Rudiment pattern A for major/minor scales through 3 accidentals
-All skills up to quarter-note=104 minimum (16th notes); slurred and tongued

Semester 2:
-Same as above in ALL KEYS
-Add Rudiment pattern B for ALL major and minor scales
-Add Major Scales in Fourths through 4 accidentals
-All skills up to quarter-note=120 minimum (16th notes) for PERFORMANCE MAJORS
-All skills up to quarter-note-104 minimum (16th notes) for MusEd./BA/Minor

THIS COMPLETES “LEVEL I” SKILL REQUIREMENTS
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Semester 3-4 - Required Skills

Semester 3:
-All skills from semesters 1-2
-Rudiment Pattern C in all keys
-Perform full range diatonic modes upon request (all key signatures)
-Chromatic 2nds full range (Kynaston Pg. 18)
-Diminished Arpeggios (Triads only) in all keys
-Major Seventh Arpeggios in all keys
-Dominant Seventh Arpeggios in all keys
-All new skills up to quarter-note=104 minimum (16th notes)
Semester 4:
-All skills from semesters 1-3 up to quarter-note=126 minimum (16th notes)
-Rudiment Pattern D in all keys
-Augmented Arpeggios (Triads only) in all keys
-Half-Diminished Seventh Arpeggios in all keys
-Whole-Tone Scales, full range
-Whole-Tone Scales in 3rds and Pattern A
-All new skills up to quarter-note=104 minimum (16th notes)

THIS COMPLETES “LEVEL II” SKILL REQUIREMENTS
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Semester 5-6 - Required Skills

Semester 5:
-All skills from semesters 1-4 up to quarter-note=132 (16th notes)
-Add Major Scales in 5th
-Add Whole-Tone Scales in 4ths
-Whole-Tone Scales in Rudiment Patterns B & C
-Diminished Scales full range
-Diminished Scales in 3rds
-Diminished Scales in Rudiment Patterns A, B, & C
-Minor-Major Seventh Arpeggios in all keys
-Minor-Minor Seventh Arpeggios in all keys
-Full-Diminished Seventh Arpeggios in all keys
-Kynaston Pg. 24 #2 (Major Arpeggio Root Sequence)
-Kynaston Pg. 25 #2 (Minor Arpeggio Root Sequence)
-All new skills at quarter-note=104 (16th notes)

Semester 6:
-All skills from semesters 1-5 up to quarter-note=126-132
-Add Minor Scales in 5ths
-Add Pentatonic Scales (major and minor types)
-Pentatonic Scales using Rudiment Patterns A, B, & C
-Diminished Scales in 4ths
-Chromatic Minor-Thirds full range (Kynaston Pg. 18)
-Kynaston Pg. 26 #2 (Major Seventh Arpeggio Root Sequence)
-Kynaston Pg. 27 #2 (Dominant Seventh Arpeggio Root Sequence)
-All new skills at quarter-note=104 (16th notes)

THIS COMPLETES “LEVEL III” SKILL REQUIREMENTS
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Semester 7-8 - Required Skills

Semester 7:
-All skills from semesters 1-6 up to quarter-note=138
-Add Major and Minor Scales in sixths
-Extend all previous exercises into altissimo range
-All Diatonic Seventh Chord Rudiment Patterns in all keys and Root Sequence Progression
-Chromatic Major-thirds full range (Kynaston Pg. 18)
-Chromatic Perfect 4ths full range (Kynaston Pg. 19)
-Chromatic Tri-Tones full range
-All new skills at quarter-note=104 (16th notes)
Semester 8:
-All skills from semesters 1-7 up to quarter-note=138
-Add Major and Minor Scales in Sevenths and Octaves
-All Rudiment Patterns-all keys
-All Chromatic Root Sequences for all chord types (M, m, M7, dom7, mM7, dim7)
-Kynaston pp. 30-31-all
-All new skills at quarter-note=104 (16th notes)

THIS COMPLETES “LEVEL IV” SKILL REQUIREMENTS (Perf. Majors only)
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NOTE: Skills for each Level must be passed before the jury repertoire is performed for the woodwind faculty at the conclusion of the Spring Semester. All skills are to be performed from MEMORY utilizing the full range of the saxophone. The student should be prepared to demonstrate all tongue-slur patterns (and even ‘be-bop’ articulations) for all skills. Each semester there may be a Mid-Term skill playoff to assess your progress. Degree Recitals MAY NOT be scheduled until Level III has received a passing grade.

Etudes and Repertoire Requirements for Juries and Levels

Juries

The student is required to perform at least one piece (or multiple movements of a work) with accompaniment at the conclusion of the Spring Semester for the entire woodwind faculty. The total time of the performance should be approximately 8-10 minutes for Music Ed majors, and approximately 15 minutes for Performance majors.

Level I

In addition to the Level I skills, two contrasting etudes, chosen from those studied during the semester, should be prepared as well.
To pass Level I, the student must show technical competency in the skills, etudes, piece and possibly sight-reading. The student must also demonstrate a characteristic saxophone tone, careful intonation, musicianship, and control. Control must be shown in areas such as articulation, dynamics, technique, tone and vibrato. In the Jury performance, the student must show musical expression and an ability to relate the saxophone part to the accompaniment. Students who pass Level I are eligible to perform on Woodwind Area and Saxophone Studio Recitals.

Level II

To pass the Level II, the student must show a maturing knowledge of the instrument. The level of control and musicianship as well as the difficulty of the repertoire should be significantly beyond that required of Level I. Areas such as intonation, ensemble, flexibility and musical understanding will begin to take precedence over basic technique. In addition, the saxophone student must demonstrate competency on the basic skills outlined through Semester 4. A student that passes the Level II Technique and Repertoire Jury is eligible to perform a 1/2 hour non-degree recital as School of Music scheduling/space allows.

Level III

To pass the Level III, the student should demonstrate a high level of technical facility, a commanding presence and musical conviction. The level of repertoire should be very demanding and should show that the student has complete command of the instrument. An ease of expression and an ability to make the music come “off the page” is what is required to pass Level III. In addition, the saxophone student must demonstrate competency on the basic skills outlined up through Semester 6. This must be done before the musical evaluation, and will be done on a one-on-one basis in the saxophone studio. A student that passes the Level III Jury is eligible to perform a full 1/2 or 1-hour Degree Recital. The woodwind faculty will determine the student’s potential to present the Degree Recital during the senior year.

Please refer to my list of “Recommended Solo Repertoire” for basic repertoire ideas and expectations.

*No student may schedule Degree Recitals without consulting me first. Any dates must be approved by the instructor. All music education and performance majors MUST present a recital during their senior year. A student is not allowed more than one Degree Recital unless arranged informally or as an off-campus event.