Learning objectives - Saxophone
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Students can start learning the saxophone once they are physically able to play and carry the instrument. It is most common for saxophone studies to start when students are 10–12 years old, although there are cases where they have started earlier. It is often desirable for students to learn on another smaller and more manageable woodwind instrument first and then switch when the teacher deems appropriate. This can be advantageous but is not necessarily essential.
Level 1
Range: e’ – a”
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Scales
Range | One octave |
Tempo | M.M = 80, scales played in quarter notes |
Scales (Choose two out of four) |
G major, F major, E minor, chromatic
(type of minor scale is optional) |
Triads | In all the above keys |
Chromatic | g’ – d” (optional) |
Works and exercises
Piece |
Pippi Laangstrump page 29 from SoJ,
Blues Adventure, no. 68 from AoA Book I, (or a similar piece) |
Practice |
Exercise no. 7 in 80 Graded Studies
(or another similar exercise) |
Option |
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Sight reading | Play a piece by sight you have not seen before (early in Grade 1) |
Study material |
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Level 2
Range: d’ – c”’
![](/sites/default/files/media-library/hvit_2.threp_.jpg)
Scales
Range | One or two octaves, within the given range |
Tempo | M.M = 96, scales played in quarter notes |
Scales | G major, F major, D major, E minor, D minor, chromatic |
Triads | In all the above keys |
Chromatic | g’ – g” |
Works and exercises
Piece |
Catosja, page 27 in Midt i Blinken 2 (Right on Beat 2),
Las Mañanitas, no. 133 from AoA Book I (or a similar piece) |
Practice |
Exercise no. 12 in 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone vol.1,
Progressive Studies 1, easy exercise from Demnitz (or another similar exercise) |
Option |
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Sight reading | Play a piece by sight you have not seen before (Grade 1) |
Study material |
|
Level 3
Range: c’ – d”’
![](/sites/default/files/media-library/hvit_3.threp_.jpg)
Scales
Range | One or two octaves, within the given range |
Tempo | M.M = 60, scales played in eighth notes |
Scales | G major, F major, D major, C major, E minor, D minor, G minor, A minor, chromatic |
Triads | In all the above keys |
Chromatic | d’ – d”’ |
Works and exercises
Piece |
The Entertainer, no. 76 from AoA Book II,
Bella Notte, page 23 in Midt i Blinken 3 (Right on Beat 3) (or a similar piece) |
Practice |
Exercise no. 21 in 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone vol.1
(or another similar exercise) |
Option |
|
Sight reading | Play a piece by sight you have not seen before (Grade 2) |
Study material |
|
Level 4
Range: bes – f”’
Basic exam
![](/sites/default/files/media-library/hvit_4.threp_.jpg)
Scales
Range | From root note up to the highest triad tone and back to root note |
Tempo | M.M = 96, scales played in eighth notes |
Scales | G major, F major, D major, C major, B-flat major, E minor, D minor, G minor, A minor, B minor, Chromatic |
Triads | In all the above keys |
Chromatic | b – f”’ |
Works and exercises
Piece |
Trend Setter, from Practice Sessions
(or a similar piece) |
Practice |
Exercise no. 37 in 80 Graded Studies for Saxophone vol.1
(or another similar exercise) |
Option |
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Sight reading | Play a piece by sight you have not seen before (Grade 3) |
Study material |
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