GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE JAZZ SAXOPHONE LESSONS

General:

All lessons must be recorded using the private lesson record form available in the jazz office or my office.

Students must agree that they understand the syllabus and the criteria for grading.   This information is or will be available at my website shortly

Teachers are expected to make up lessons that they miss due to outside conflicts not related to school activities.   Teachers are not required to make up lessons that students miss or desire to reschedule.   Such make-ups are a courtesy extended by the teacher.

Any and every no-show to a private lesson will result in a one half letter grade penalty regardless of and in addition to the teacher's final grade

Lesson preparedness and progress account for two thirds of the final grade.   The jury counts for one third.

All 2 or 3 credit lesson majors and principals are required to perform for saxophone forum at least once a year, except for the recital semester.

Curriculum:

Jazz saxophone lessons should cover the following topics over the course of the students study at UM.   Individual assignments and concentration at a particular point in time will vary greatly due to the level of individual development.

1. Sound Development (tone, tonal variety, intonation, nuance)
2. Basic Technique (scale and chord study, technical etudes)
3. Reading and Interpretation (jazz/classical etudes and similar studies)
4. Improvisation (patterns, transcription, application of jazz theory, rhythmic studies)
5. Repertoire (developing and expanding a list of jazz compositions and standard songs known from memory)

A note about preparing transcriptions:

The student is expected to know the melody and chord structure behind the transcribed solo.   Ideally this should be committed to memory before transcribing the notes of the solo.  

Transcription by ear and into memory is highly recommended, however the solo should be notated at some point during the process.

Transcriptions are to be performed with an accompaniment and from memory.

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Lesson preparedness and progress account for two thirds of the final grade.   The jury counts for one third.

Curriculum:

Jazz saxophone lessons should cover the following topics over the course of the students study at UM.   Individual assignments and concentration at a particular point in time will vary greatly due to the level of individual development.

1. Sound Development (tone, tonal variety, intonation, nuance)
2. Basic Technique (scale and chord study, technical etudes)
3. Reading and Interpretation (jazz/classical etudes and similar studies)
4. Improvisation (patterns, transcription, application of jazz theory, rhythmic studies)
5. Repertoire (developing and expanding a list of jazz compositions and standard songs known from memory)

A note about preparing transcriptions:

The student is expected to know the melody and chord structure behind the transcribed solo.   Ideally this should be committed to memory before transcribing the notes of the solo.  

Transcription by ear and into memory is highly recommended, however the solo should be notated at some point during the process.

Transcriptions are to be performed with an accompaniment and from memory.