SaxoBrain

Curriculum

Four years of study for college saxophonists, centered on alto saxophone with tenor options every year. Each year has technique goals, études, solo repertoire to choose from, reading and listening. Read across a row to see how a skill builds; open a year to see everything for that year on one page.

Technique
Études
Solo repertoire
Reading
Listening
Year 1First YearOpen this year →Technique
  • The Scale Series: memorized up to 4 sharps and 4 flats by the end of the year
Études
  • Melodious and Progressive Studies Book 1 Hite
Solo repertoire26 piecesVirtuosicFrenchLyricalContemporaryReadingHow to practice2 in fall, 2 in springListening5 albumsIntro to Classical SaxophoneYear 2Second YearOpen this year →Technique
  • The Scale Series: completely memorized by the end of the first semester
  • Beginning altissimo
Études
  • 27 Melodious and Rhythmical Exercises Small
  • Exercices d’intonation Londeix
Solo repertoire28 piecesVirtuosicFrenchRomanticContemporaryReadingThe instrument’s history1 in fall, 1 in springListening5 albumsNext Steps: Classical SaxophoneYear 3Third YearOpen this year →Technique
  • Scales in 4ths
  • Advanced altissimo
  • Beginning extended techniques (growl, flutter, multiphonics, circular breathing, double tonguing)
Études
  • 48 Famous Studies Ferling
  • 9 Études Transcendantes Samyn
Solo repertoire36 piecesBaroqueVirtuosicLyrical or RomanticContemporaryReadingRepertoire, then and now1 in fall, 1 in springListening6 albumsAdvanced Classical SaxophoneYear 4Fourth YearOpen this year →Technique
  • Overtone exercises
Études
  • 28 études sur les modes à transpositions limitées d'Olivier Messiaen Lacour
Solo repertoire22 piecesBaroqueVirtuosicLyrical or RomanticContemporaryReadingTeaching1 in fall, 1 in springListening6 albumsClassical Saxophone

Solo repertoire

Each category is a menu: choose one piece per category each semester. Pieces for soprano, tenor or baritone carry a tag.

Beyond these lists

Every year links to the full catalog, filtered to that year of study.