SAXOPHONE STUDY AT THE HARTT SCHOOL WITH CARRIE KOFFMAN

INTRODUCTION

When you choose to study music at The Hartt School, you have committed to pursuing excellence in this field. Regardless of your degree plan, it is essential that you become the best musician possible. Generally, this will be achieved through performance on your principle instrument first.

PHILOSOPHY: WHY STUDY SAXOPHONE?

Music is everywhere; it's found in every culture and in every time. Human beings seem to need it to give meaning to their world, as well as to express their ideas, their soul - their individuality. Music is a significant component of the very identity of individuals and cultures. It's also a unique potential in each person, a separate intelligence or mode of cognitive functioning. So, each person has the potential not only to experience and enjoy music, but also to achieve in musical ways. And heightened achievement (from formal learning, among other things) leads to greater fulfillment in life through music. Achieving in music, or DOing music, requires a medium of some sort. Singing is most basic, but people have created many different instruments to use as an outlet for expressing their musical ideas; the saxophone is truly among the best! The better you play, according to the technical and expressive standards of our culture, the more fulfillment is possible. Hence the emphasis on achieving the highest possible performance level during your time at The Hartt School.

GOAL

When you study music at The Hartt School as a saxophonist, I will work with you to help you realize your full musical potential, regardless of which degree plan you are pursuing. My mission is to coach, guide and direct you in such a way that you will develop musical independence. It is impossible to provide a student with everything needed to prepare for a career in music. What is most important is that students acquire musical proficiency, and gain an awareness of the process in which they engage in order to accomplish this, so that they become able to teach themselves. The goal of teaching is to eventually render oneself unnecessary, to foster independence, to help students acquire the insight to be able to ask questions, and look for and find answers on their own. My ultimate goal is that my students learn to teach themselves.

Achieving artistry requires desire, curiosity, persistence and a commitment to the educational process. Fulfilling required course work can be considered a foundation to an education, but the study of any art is a lifelong endeavor. My role is to guide you in this process, and provide support, encouragement and instruction during your time at The Hartt School.

The faculty at The Hartt School strives to create an environment that stresses individual attention and develops positive personal relationships with other students, faculty, and professional musicians to further your music career both here and beyond.

COMPREHENSIVENESS AND WELL-ROUNDEDNESS

Our goal at The Hartt School is to provide you with as comprehensive an education as possible. This means that the faculty work together as a team to provide you with experiences conducive to learning as much and as well as you can. Each of us is responsible for our own area of expertise, designed to provide you with a portion of your education.

Here is where we do what, and how it relates to the saxophone studio:

Applied Lessons

Applied lessons are the backbone of a comprehensive music education. We will focus on using the saxophone as a vehicle for musical expression and on learning to control the instrument in a way that will expand your palette of musical choices. You should learn to demonstrate the following on your major instrument:

As saxophonists we have the privilege of a history that began with French military bands and proceeded to incorporate several genres of music: classical, jazz, commercial, pop, etc. The diversity inherent in our instrument provides us with unique and extensive challenges, but also great rewards. As performers, it is important for us to explore this diversity. As future educators under the current system of bands in the public schools, you will be responsible for teaching both concert bands and jazz bands. In order to do this, proficiency in both styles is important.

I believe that the variety of sounds or timbres considered "acceptable" on the saxophone is greater than other instruments, and that we need to strive to create the flexibility required in order to accomplish several of these. Everything works together to create an engaging musical experience for the listener and the performer alike. It's very unsatisfying to listen to incredible speed of facility if the sound is uncharacteristic. Beauty of sound isn't enough if technique is out of control. Saying something uniquely musical is most important of all.

Improvisation plays a vital role in live performance regardless of the musical style. In classical performance, improvisation occurs with time, dynamics, phrase shapes, detail of nuance, color, etc. In jazz improvisation, in addition to these elements, improvisation involves choosing notes and rhythms.

Ultimately, great musical experiences are the same regardless of the musical genre. This involves being in the moment, staying present in the creative process. The higher the level of control that you achieve over the executive skills necessary to play the instrument, the greater the degree of freedom you will have to make unique, creative choices about the music you wish to play. As with everything in life, this is a constantly shifting balance - yin/yang, positive/negative, feminine/masculine. The lifelong striving is toward complete mastery, which allows for complete freedom of expression. In the practice of yoga, "Perfection in an asana (pose) is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached." - Patanjali's Yoga Sutra 2.47. This is also the ultimate goal of musical performance.

Jazz Improvisation Courses

Regardless of your degree plan, it is recommended that you take advantage of these offerings.

Large Ensembles

Large ensembles (Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Bands) are essential to a well-balanced musical curriculum. You will have opportunities to apply what you have learned in lessons, learn ensemble performance skills, and to observe rehearsals from a pedagogical standpoint.

Chamber Music

Chamber music (saxophone quartet and jazz combo) requires soloistic playing, as musical parts are independent and exposed. These ensembles will give you the opportunity to learn how to rehearse on your own and allow a great deal of freedom in musical decision making in an ensemble situation. The skills learned in this setting are unique, and provide an essential portion of your experience.

Saxophone Studio Class

This class is part of applied lessons. If you enroll in applied saxophone, you are also required to attend studio class. The purpose is to meet as a studio, perform for each other, learn from guest artists, and cover topics of mutual interest and concern.

Saxophone Technique Class

This class is part of applied lessons. If you enroll in applied saxophone, you are also required to attend technique class. The purpose is to maintain consistency in technical development.

Music Education Classes

My task is to help develop educated performers as well as performing educators. The performance standards on the saxophone are the same for all degree plans, although the quantity of repertoire and skills may vary. I realize that the music education degree is more demanding in this respect, but it's also a more versatile degree. If you are interested in teaching at the elementary, middle school, high school, college or professional level, either within a classroom setting or in a private studio, consider this degree. Regardless of what musical avenue you end up pursuing, chances are you will end up teaching in some capacity. Most professional musicians teach as well as perform. Teaching also helps a great deal in learning to become a better player.

The type of knowledge that is taught in applied saxophone is procedural - what you can do. The quality of one's teaching is directly related to one's procedural musicianship. In other words, performance skill is important to music educators because in order to be able to teach something, one must first be able to do it. The term "performing musician" is redundant - there is no such thing as a non-performing musician. The quality of one's musical criticism is a function of performing musicianship.

The Saxophone Family

We are fortunate to play an instrument capable of a wide variety of colors and an enormous range, if the entire family is considered. The saxophone was originally invented in two sets, one in alternating keys of C and F for use in orchestras, and one in alternating keys of B-flat and E-flat for use in military bands. The C and F family is no longer used. As well-rounded saxophonists, performance skills on soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone are all important. In general, applied lessons should be taken primarily on alto saxophone, as this is the instrument for which most of our significant repertoire has been written. The better the repertoire, the better the resulting musical experience. Skills learned on alto transfer to the other saxophones.