Fourth Year

Technique

Overtone exercises

Études

28 études sur les modes à transpositions limitées d'Olivier Messiaen Guy LacourBuy the book

Solo repertoire

22 pieces

By the time a student reaches their fourth year of study they should have advanced enough in their technique to play most of the saxophone repertoire. The pieces below are suggestions.

Baroque

Choose one

Six Suites for Violoncello Solo Any saxophone
Johann Sebastian Bach
Score

Virtuosic

Choose one

Hot Sonate Alto
Erwin Schulhoff
Listen Score
Escapades Alto
John Williams
Listen Score
Cronos Alto
Raymond Alessandrini
Score
Klonos Alto
Piet Swerts
Listen Score
Neuf Études, Book 1: No. 1 Balafon Alto
Christian Lauba
Listen
Sonata for Tenor Saxophone and Piano Tenor
Walter Hartley
Score
Duo for Tenor Saxophone and Piano Tenor
Walter Hartley
Score
Beat Me (1996) Tenor
Barry Cockcroft
Listen Score

Lyrical or Romantic

Choose one

Légende, Op. 66 Alto
Florent Schmitt
Listen Score
Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 120, No. 2 Alto
Johannes Brahms
Listen Score
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (or Band) (1941) Alto
Paul Creston
Listen Score
Ballade Alto
Henri Tomasi
Listen Score
Diversions Tenor
Morton Gould
Score
Ballade (Tenor) Tenor
Frank Martin
Score

Contemporary

Choose one

Air and Scherzo Alto
Henry Cowell
Listen Score
San Antonio Alto
John Harbison
Score
Duo Alto
Walter Hartley
Score
Élegie et Rondeau Alto
Karel Husa
Listen Score
Nuits Blanches Soprano Alto Tenor
Alain Crepin
Score
Episode Quatrième Tenor
Betsy Jolas
Listen Score
Neuf Études, Book 2: No. 6 Gyn and Neuf Études, Book 2: No. 7 Vir Tenor
Christian Lauba

Looking for something else? The catalog lists 206 fourth-year pieces, plus 174 advanced pieces. See them all →Advanced →

Reading

This year’s focus: Teaching

Fall

Ch. 11: “Teaching the Saxophone” The Cambridge Companion to the Saxophone, by Kyle Horch

The roles of student and teacher, with hands-on ways to teach a first embouchure, vibrato and a relaxed tone.

PDF

Spring

Common Problems (and Solutions) for Developing Saxophonists by Jennifer Blackwell

Causes and fixes for common problems music teachers encounter.

PDF

Listening

Classical Saxophone

HardRichard Ducros Listen
FlowsVincent David Listen
Boulez/BerioVincent David Listen
Differential MoodsJeffrey Loeffert Listen
In Lights Starkly DifferentDrew Whiting Listen
This is ~Nois~Nois Listen