D'Addario Woodwinds Blog: Tim Price Bloggin' For Rico- Check list for the University bound saxophonist ; you need to know this!

In the course of teaching and getting students ready for many situations, I thought this lesson would open some eyes to some of the elements and instrumental requirements I feel are necessary for a good proficiency level to function in jazz study. Or for that matter, some general strong saxophone skills. The student should have all these aspects together if they want to get into a good music school, or function as a professional, or just make their basic skills as strong as possible. These are elements that everyone should have under their belt at some point. I'll share them with you.

All major scales

All minor scales (natural, harmonic, ascending melodic)

All (2) whole-tone scales

Pentatonic scales

Blues scales

All diminished scales

Chromatic scales

Bebop scales (ionian add #5; mixolydian add Maj.7; melodic minor add #5; mixolydian b2 b6 add Maj.7; dorian add Maj.7; locrian add Maj.7)
All of the above scales in 15 keys (7 sharp keys, 7 flat keys and the key of C)

All dom 7th, min 7th, maj 7th, half dim 7th, dim 7th (and in versions)

Dominant 7th arpeggios chromatically

ii-V progression arpeggiated from the root

ii-V pattern chromatically

ii-V pattern moving up in minor thirds

Flat 5 substitutes in all keys

Scale fragments (i.e. 1231/1235/1b761/1b765) - play in cycles of 5ths, chromatically, minor 3rds, etc.

Repertoire for performance goals

Play "basic blues" in all keys (i.e. Bags Groove, Blues In The Closet, Buzzy, Bluebird, Now's The Time, Cool Blues, Straight No Chaser, and other melodies)

Play "rhythm changes" at least three keys

Memorize three jazz standards, other than the blues, which are of a complex nature, i.e. "Donna Lee", "Confirmation", etc.

Be able to play with other musicians, keeping consistent time, keeping track of song form, and interacting.

Sight reading and Concentration

Be able to read and perform parts, both classical and jazz idioms with accuracy of tempo, intonation, dynamics and articulation.

Be able to read melodic lines that emphasize continuous 16th or 8th note passages with varying intervallic movement and swing feeling.

Sound

Be able to perform throughout the entire register of the instrument with full and even sound at any dynamic level.

If your college bound, via a school jazz program, and play saxophone use this blog as your check list. You should be able to do a lot on here-and also get started on the weak spots ASAP.

Also- Check my friend- Jeff Coffin showing some love, my former student Erin Stroup sends me a TV clip on education w/ Jeff Coffin that made it on you tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8G0dWqReiI

Check out what Jeff Coffin said about me at 1:45-1:46 on you tube. And shows not only those of us who are fighting in the trenches and that a student of mine has made a difference in a school system!!

Hope this is a help- Tim Price

PS- Sax Study w/Tim Price...SKYPE/ NYC or PA.

I provide you with specific projects that will challenge you at your present level without overwhelming you. I will also help you gain the ability to do that.As a working professional who teaches at one of the top jazz schools ( New School University- NYC) , and also does clinics for Rico Reeds, this is what I'm here for. Let me help you. It's that simple- it's that fun.Any level-any style.

Studios in NYC, Reading, Pa and I teach on SKYPE.

( Also let your band teachers know I do workshops/clinics.I travel and will

be glad to make this work for you & your school )

Get to me at ; timpricejazz@aol.com

THANKS- Tim Price