Learning the altissimo register of the saxophone

Emma Jones

Name: Emma Jones Main Subject: Classical Saxophone Research Supervisor: Pete Saunders Research Title: Learning the altissimo register of the saxophone. Research Questions: What are the different approaches to teaching the saxophones altissimo register? Can a combination of these approaches lead to a confident and comfortable use of this register? Summary: This paper looks at how the altissimo register is taught by a number of performing saxophonists and teachers and how advice from lots of different voices can lead to the moment of understanding with the altissimo register. Several method books exist to help access the register but there are few resources for the initial stages of its performance. A collection of short studies based on selected standard repertoire have been composed as a resource for students who are approaching works that demand the use of the altissimo register. A recording of the study and the excerpt of the original material accompanies a small pedagogical text to help the reader towards success. Biography: Emma Jones is a British classical saxophonist. She graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire with a 1st class honours in 2015 studying under Naomi Sullivan and is in her final year at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. She aspires to perform regularly as an orchestral saxophonist and makes up half of the Element Duo who released their debut album in 2015.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

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DISCOGRAPHY:

Christer Johnsson (sax) Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. (7th January 2002) Lars-Erik Larsson, CD, Stokholm, Sweden: Caprice

Daniel Gauthier (sax), Jang Eun Bae (piano). (22nd April 2003) Miniatures - Music for Saxophone and Piano, CD, Detmold, Germany: MDG.

Hayrapet Arakelyan (sax) Eun Bae Jang (piano). (5th June 2012) French Connection, CD, Ratingen, Germany: ARS Produktion.

John Harle (sax) New World Symphony. (11th April 1995) Defining Dahl, CD, Chicago: Argo

Kenneth Tse (sax), University of Iowa Symphony Band. (12th June 2012) Martyrs for the faith, CD, Connecticut: MSR Classics

Koryun Asatryan (sax) Jang Eun Bae (piano). (7th February 2002) Saxophone Caprices, CD, Holzgerlingen, Germany: Hanssler Classic

Nobuya Sugawa (sax) BBC Philharmonic. (27th May 2008) Nobuya Sugawa plays Honda, Yoshimatsu, Ibert, Larsson, CD, Colchester: Chandos

Otis Murphy (sax) Haruko Murphy (piano). (2nd February 2011) Fantasy, CD, Arizona: Arizona University Recordings.

Otis Murphy (sax) Haruko Murphy (piano). (26th April 2011) Summertime, CD, England: Saxophone classics

Pekka Savijoki (sax), Stockholm New Chamber Orchestra. (1st April 1995) Saxophone Concerti, CD, Akersberga, Sweden: BIS.

Sarah Markham (sax), Paul Turner (piano). (28th March 2011) Run, Sing, Fly, CD, England: Saxophone classics

Steven Jordheim (sax), Christine Dahl (piano). (Sep 26, 2000) The music of David Maslanka, CD, Albany, New York: Albany Records.

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