The Study of Saxophone
Year 2
1st Cycle (Preparatory to Year 3). A Nine-Year Course of Study for the Modern Saxophonist-Doubler — Saxophone, Flute & Clarinet.
Thomas Hornig · Henri Selmer Paris Artist · 2026 Edition · The Whole Horn
What Year 2 asks
EXAM REQUIREMENTS
1. Performance of all Major and Harmonic minor scales to include arpeggiated Tonic and Dominant 7th chords
2. Performance of selected piece for Saxophone and Piano
3. Performance of Etudes from selected method: Lacour, Vol. 2
THE YEAR
October to July, in two semesters.
Mid-term exam: early March.
Final exam: early July.
Saxophone students are required to complete the listed methods and satisfactorily present the required scale and arpeggio materials during each school year. Ten compositions will be chosen from each repertoire list and developed to a performance level. Repertoire for the jury examination should be selected in consultation with the student's teacher. Pieces not listed may be studied and performed with the permission of the teacher. Extensive participation in a saxophone quartet and with other instruments in the performance of chamber music and large wind ensemble is requisite for students who have attained an acceptable performance level.
The Study of Saxophone · Desired Competencies
Scales in the app
Exam: Performance of all Major and Harmonic minor scales to include arpeggiated Tonic and Dominant 7th chords. Each link opens in The Whole Horn, written for the student's own saxophone.
All Major and Harmonic minor scales, with Tonic and Dominant 7th arpeggios
all 12 keys · two octaves · ♩=60 · arpeggios in the app: major keys (tonic and V7)
Methods
The Study of Saxophone · Year 2
Core Methods
Londeix, Exercices Mécaniques, 1er Cahier
Lacour, 50 Etudes Faciles, Vol. 2
Naulais, 30 Etudes Récréatives
Lacour, 100 Déchiffrages (Sight-reading exercises), Vol. 1
Additional Methods
Klosé, 25 Daily Exercises for Saxophone
Bois, 28 Etudes et Transpositions
Sorok, Etudes pour Saxophone
Londeix, Exercices Mécaniques, Vol. 2
Salviani-Iasilli, Exercises in All Practical Keys
Niehaus, Jazz Conception for Saxophone — Basique
Londeix, Les Gammes Conjointes et en Intervalles
Londeix, Le Détaché
Hite, Melodious and Progressive Studies for Saxophone, Book 1
Mule, Pièces Célèbres for Bb Soprano Saxophone
Mule, Pièces Célèbres for Eb Alto Saxophone
Mule, Scales and Arpeggios
Coker, Patterns for Jazz
Bosch Jr., Studies for Saxophone
Cottrell, The Saxophone
Repertoire
The Study of Saxophone · Year 2
Core Repertoire
Meriot, Grisaille for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Truillard, Sérénade for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Damase, Vacances for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Pascal, Planetarium for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Petit, Saxopera for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Additional Repertoire
Albéniz, Tango for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Ameller, Suite d'Après Rameau for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Antonini, Divertissement Tzigane for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Brown, Au fil du vent for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Gossec, Tambourin for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Handel, Five Famous Handel Sonatas for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Kisza, 10 Movements for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Lancen, Légende Heureuse for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Lunde, Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Meriot, Evasion for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Rameau, Rigaudon for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Saxophone Duet — Mozart, Romance for Alto Saxophones
Saxophone Duet — Leclair, Sonate pour 2 Saxophones
Tcherepnin, Sonatine Sportive for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Teal, Program Solos, Alto Saxophone and Piano
Desired Competency
1st Cycle (Preparatory to Year 3)
Acquisition of basic skills
air column / breathing
concept for sound / timbre
articulation
rhythmic, digital and timbral homogeneity
accuracy
flexibility
nuance
intonation
vibrato
And
Development of basic technique and knowledge of all Major and Minor scales.
Ability to hear and play dynamics, develop a sense of musical phrasing and a basic understanding of blend and balance.
Cultivation of the ability to memorize simple musical passages.
Development of basic sight-reading skills.
Ability to notate simple musical passages.
Understanding of chord-scale relationships; Jazz improvisation using basic facility.
Basic knowledge of the history of the saxophone and the Giants of Saxophone.
Experience in ensemble performance — piano accompaniment — ensemble of saxophones.
Public performance.
Make it yours
Every link here is a starting point. To change one, open For Teachers in The Whole Horn, set the key, tempo or hours, add your own sentence, make the link, and paste it over ours. This is one year of The Study of Saxophone. The whole course, from the Preparatory Year to Year 9, is on thewholehorn.com.
This is a living framework. Use it as a foundation, adapt it to your context, and revise it as new resources emerge.
— Thomas Hornig