{"id":650,"date":"2017-05-10T13:37:23","date_gmt":"2017-05-10T17:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/?page_id=650"},"modified":"2025-08-08T13:54:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T17:54:19","slug":"jazz-saxophone","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/faq\/student-curriculum\/jazz-saxophone\/","title":{"rendered":"Jazz Saxophone Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"<hr \/>\n<h2 align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level<\/span><span style=\"color: #61812a\"> I<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Goals<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Development of basic rhythmic sense (self contained time feel)<br \/>\nDevelopment of basic jazz phrasing concepts, (swing eighth note interpretation, characteristic articulation and style)<br \/>\nAbility to improvise over simple harmonic frameworks such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Basic 12 bars blues<\/li>\n<li>One or two chords of relatively long duration<\/li>\n<li>Modal tunes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Methods<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Niehaus, L. \u2013 Basic Jazz Conceptions for Saxophone, Vol. 1<\/li>\n<li>Larry Teal \u2013 The Art of Playing the Saxophone<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Sample Solos <\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>NYSSMA Levels 1 and 2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Improvisation Concepts<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Major and Minor pentatonic scales.<\/li>\n<li>Blues scales introduced.<\/li>\n<li>Introduction to Modes of Major Harmony<\/li>\n<li>Motive soloing and Development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Improvisation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jamey Aebersold Vol. 24 Major and Minor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level II<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Sample Solos<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Level 2 and 3 NYYSMA<\/li>\n<li>Performance: Solofest and ECMS recital encouraged<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Methods<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Niehaus, L. \u2013 Basic Jazz Conceptions for Saxophone, Vol. 2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Theory<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Intervals<\/li>\n<li>Ear Training \u2013 Singing and recognizing intervals<\/li>\n<li>Jazz sequences introduced based on intervallic relationships<\/li>\n<li>Pentatonic and blues sequences<\/li>\n<li>Modes of Major Harmony continuation<\/li>\n<li>Attention to color tones of scales<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Jamey Aebersold Vol. 1 \u2013 How to Play Jazz and Improvise<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level III<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Sample Solos<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Levels 3 and Level 4 NYYSMA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Performance<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One Solofest per year required<\/li>\n<li>ECMS recital encouraged<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Theory<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Modes of Major Harmony continuation<\/li>\n<li>More on Jazz sequences based on intervallic relationships<\/li>\n<li>Ear Training \u2013 Singing and recognizing more complex intervals<\/li>\n<li>II-V-I Patterns<\/li>\n<li>Understanding and use of the circle of 5th<\/li>\n<li>Diatonic triads and 7th chords in all major and minor keys<\/li>\n<li>All Major, Minor, Diminished and Augmented Triads Straight and Broken Patterns All Keys.<\/li>\n<li>Understanding of functional harmony (V-I, v-I, ii-V I, I VI ii V, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Jazz Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Introduction of Modal Tunes<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>So What<\/li>\n<li>Cantaloupe Island<\/li>\n<li>Little Sunflower<\/li>\n<li>More on Bb Blues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep working on more tunes accordingly<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jamey Aebersold Vol. 1 How to Play Jazz and Improvise<\/li>\n<li>Jamey Aebersold Vol. 21 Getting it there<\/li>\n<li>Jamey Aebersold Vol. 3 II-V-I<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level IV<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Solos<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Level 4 and5 NYYSMA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Performance<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Solofest in January required and one ECMS recital performance required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Theory<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ear Training \u2013 Ability to discern all 7th chord types<\/li>\n<li>Triads All Cycles and Permutations by Memory<\/li>\n<li>Arpeggios of all 5 Basic Chord Categories (Major, Minor, Dominant, Minor 7th b5 and diminished) All keys all Invertions by Memory<\/li>\n<li>More on major and minor II-V-I<\/li>\n<li>Ear Training \u2013 Singing and recognizing Major minor diminished and augmented triads<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Jazz Repertoire<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Blues in Bb, F<\/li>\n<li>Blue Bossa<\/li>\n<li>C Minor Blues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Jamey Aebersold Vol. 54, Maiden Voyage<br \/>\nCharlie Parker Omnibook<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Musicianship<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ability to sing simple solos<\/li>\n<li>Doing and analyzing simple Jazz transcriptions for development of the language.<\/li>\n<li>Listening to Favorite Jazz Artist<\/li>\n<li>Common Notes and Voice Leading Exercises<\/li>\n<li>Chord Tones Exercises<\/li>\n<li>Introduction of more complex chord progressions and tunes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Ensembles<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Perform in school jazz ensemble and all county jazz ensembles.<\/li>\n<li>Perform regularly in small group setting. (Combo)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level V: Diploma Level<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Sample Solos<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>NYSSMA Levels 5 and 6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Skills and Techniques<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Continuation of Level I through IV Skills<\/li>\n<li>Whole Tone, Diminished and Augmented Scales Introduced<\/li>\n<li>Melodic and Harmonic Minor Scales and Related modes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Jazz<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Coker \u2013 Patterns for Jazz<\/li>\n<li>Nelson \u2013 Patterns for Improvisation<\/li>\n<li>Baker \u2013 Bebop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Theory<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Utilization of Bo-bop era non-harmonic tones or approach notes patterns:<\/li>\n<li>Upper diatonic Neighbor<\/li>\n<li>Lower Chromatic Neighbor<\/li>\n<li>Rotation\/Enclosure<\/li>\n<li>Double Chromatic Approach<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Jazz Repertoire<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Various Real Books focusing on Standards<\/li>\n<li>Ex. Take the A Train, Night in Tunisia, Autumn Leaves, All the Things You Are<\/li>\n<li>Jamey Aebersold Vol. 54, Maiden Voyage<\/li>\n<li>Charlie Parker Omnibook<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Musicianship<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ability to sing simple solos<\/li>\n<li>Doing and analyzing more complex Jazz transcriptions for development of the language<\/li>\n<li>Listening to recordings of jazz artist specializing on your particular saxophone.<\/li>\n<li>More on II-V-I, Sequences etc.<\/li>\n<li>Ear Training \u2013 Ability to discern all 7th chord types<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Performance<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One regularly schedule ECMS recital required during senior when graduating at this level of playing.<\/li>\n<li>One Jazz Solofest required during school year. Participation in honor bands (concert and jazz) encouraged.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level VI: Honors Level<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Sample Solos<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>NYSSMA Level 6 and other non- NYSSMA solos<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Jazz<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Coker \u2013 Patterns for Jazz<\/li>\n<li>Nelson \u2013 Patterns for Improvisation<\/li>\n<li>Baker \u2013 Bebop<\/li>\n<li>Ricker \u2013 Advanced Etudes (Pentatonic, Augmented, Coltrane)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Theory<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mastery of levels I through V<\/li>\n<li>Ear Training \u2013 Ability to discern tritone and harmonic substitutions Tetratonics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Jazz Repertoire <\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Various Real Books focusing on Standards<\/li>\n<li>Ex. Just Friends, Rhythm Changes, Cherokee, etc.<\/li>\n<li>Jamey Aebersold Vol. 54, Maiden Voyage, Vol. 34<\/li>\n<li>Charlie Parker; Omnibook. Use of other transcriptions books depending on student interest to develop his\/her own voice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Musicianship<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ability to sing more complex solos. Motive Soloing and Motive Development continued.<\/li>\n<li>Doing and analyzing more complex Jazz transcriptions for development of the language<\/li>\n<li>Listening to recordings of jazz artist specializing on your particular saxophone.<\/li>\n<li>Introduction of various techniques of out-side improvisation<\/li>\n<li>Introduction of Free Form improvisation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Performance<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Required<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pass special 20 minutes jury for permission to perform in solo recital.<\/li>\n<li>Prepare and perform in one full length solo recital during senior year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>General<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Perform at Solofest in Jazz<\/li>\n<li>Audition for honor bands<\/li>\n<li>Prepare for college auditions<\/li>\n<li>Attend live performances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p align=\"left\"><em>Last updated: 10\/7\/08<\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/handbooks\/student\">Student Handbook Table of Contents<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Level I Goals Development of basic rhythmic sense (self contained time feel) Development of basic jazz phrasing concepts, (swing eighth note interpretation, characteristic articulation and style) Ability to improvise over simple harmonic frameworks such as: Basic 12 bars blues One or two chords of relatively long duration Modal tunes. Methods Niehaus, L. \u2013 Basic Jazz [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":0,"parent":617,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-650","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"mb":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/author\/rita-coulter\/","display_name":"Rita Coulter"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 9 years ago","modified":"Updated 9 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on May 10, 2017","modified":"Updated on August 8, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on May 10, 2017 1:37 PM","modified":"Updated on August 8, 2025 1:54 PM"},"featured_img_caption":"","featured_img":false,"series_order":"","mfb_rest_fields":["title","coauthors","author_meta","relative_dates","absolute_dates","absolute_dates_time","featured_img_caption","featured_img","series_order"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=650"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32711,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/650\/revisions\/32711"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}