Saxophone 2C
Break week: 4th June 2022.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
This course has now started
Course Code: ME612C
Duration: 9 sessions (over 10 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course is the last part of our second year of study. You will develop instrumental technique and sound, music reading, musicianship skills, ensemble playing, and improvisation.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
- Appropriate use of scales e.g. blues, minor, mixolydian,etc., in improvisation
- Playing broken chords and chord theory
- Technical aspects of playing the instrument
- Aspects of related musicianship, e.g. counting, listening, reading
- What to practise, and how to practise
- Transposing skills
- Contribution to group performance.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Demonstrate improved confidence in your ability to play
- have expanded your range of scales
- Play new repertoire including jazz standards
- Demonstrate improved tone and stamina
- Improvise in a variety of musical contexts
- Perform with your class.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is ideal for saxophone students who have completed at least 2 years of serious musical study. Any other band or instrumental experience will be of advantage.
You must be able to play 2 octaves from bottom C to top C, and you should already know the major scales of C, G, F and D, the minor pentatonic on A and D, and their chord notes. You should also understand treble clef notation and chord symbols.
You will need to follow written and verbal instructions in English and engage in class discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through tutor demonstrations, using audio and visual resources in the google classroom. You will play with other students, sometimes with piano and/or a backing track, and learn from one another.
Practice between classes will be essential to your progress. Students will be expected to make space and time for practice.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
A music stand and metronome are essential for practice at home. Please have manuscript paper and a pencil. You may be asked to buy a sax book on the advice of your tutor. Resources are available in the google classroom.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Progress to Saxophone 3 next academic year.
David Harrison studied at Oxford Brookes university before taking a post-graduate diploma in saxophone performance at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. David has been teaching at City Lit since 1994. In 2004 he wrote a guitar player’s guide for Collins and joined Music Sales in 2005 to update the famous A Tune A Day tutor series, eventually producing over 40 titles as series editor of the relaunched A New Tune A Day books, which has since become the biggest-selling music tutor series worldwide. Since 2010, David has worked freelance writing, editing and producing mainly educational titles, including Abracadabra Beginning Theory (Collins Music); The Complete Ukulele Player (Music Sales) and most recently the Bob Dylan Complete (Hal Leonard), the authorised collection of every Dylan song, together with an extensive introduction covering Dylan’s acoustic guitar technique, his song-writing and Dylan’s place in the American folk music revival. Aside from his guitar and saxophone classes, David runs a course in song writing. a series of talks on the music of The Beatles, and a series on the songs of Bob Dylan’s 1960s albums.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
