The Study of Saxophone
Year 3
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 3 asks
EXAM REQUIREMENTS
1. Performance of all Major and Harmonic minor scales to include 3rds + arpeggiated Tonic and Dominant 7th chords
2. Performance of selected piece for Saxophone and Piano
3. Performance of Etudes from selected method: Salviani-Iasilli
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 3rds + 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 3
Core Methods
Salviani-Iasilli, Exercises in All Practical Keys
Andersen, 24 Petites Etudes
Senon, Techni-Saxophone
Londeix, Exercices Mécaniques, 2ème Cahier
Additional Methods
Traits d'Orchestre pour Saxophone Alto
Mintzer, 14 Blues and Funk Studies
Mule, 18 Studies after Berbiguier
Tate, 250 Jazz Patterns
Ricker, Advanced Chord Etudes for Saxophone
Van Lenten, Creative Jazz Exercises, Vol. 2
Sorok, Etudes pour Saxophone
Klosé, Etudes pour Saxophone
Gerard, Improvising Sax Jazz
Niehaus, Jazz Conception for Saxophone Duets
Niehaus, Jazz Conception for Saxophone — Intermediate
Snidero, Jazz Conception (play-along)
Bay, Jazz Saxophone Concepts
Mule, Pièces Célèbres, Vols. 1, 2, 3
Ricker, Pentatonic Scales for Jazz Improvisation
Voxman, Selected Studies
Viola, Technique, Saxophone, Vol. 3 — Rhythm Studies
Marienthal, The Two-Hour Practice Session
Tompsett, Ultimate Funk Book for Bb instruments
Sinta, Voicing — An Approach to Third Range
Methods and Repertoire for the Developing Saxophone Quartet
Teal, The Art of Saxophone Playing
Klosé, 25 Daily Exercises for Saxophone
Repertoire
The Study of Saxophone · Year 3
Core Repertoire
Crépin, Mandarine for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Truillard, Sérénade for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Dautremer, Emotion for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Lacour, Belle Époque for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Planel, Suite Romantique for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Druet, Sérénade Impromptu for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Lesieur, Sarabande et Menuet for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Additional Repertoire (1 of 2)
Absil, Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Bach, Choral Jésus que ma joie demeure for Soprano Saxophone and Piano
Bach, Le Choral du Veilleur for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Bach, Prélude à la Cantate No. 156 for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Bazelaire, Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Piano
Bizet, Agnus Dei for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Bizet, Intermezzo, L'Arlésienne for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Brown, Tango for SOLO Tenor Saxophone
Burgmüller, Op. 100 No. 2 Arabesque for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Hovhaness, The Flowering Peach for Alto Saxophone and Perc.
Chopin, Op. 10 No. 3 Etude for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Corelli, Gigue for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Debussy, La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin for Tenor or Soprano Saxophone and Piano
Demersseman, Premier Solo — Andante et Boléro for Tenor Saxophone and Piano
Desportes, Saxo Danses for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Fauré, Op. 33 No. 3 — Nocturne for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Fauré, Sicilienne for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Fiche, Concerti Pour un Astronaute for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Gershwin, 11 Songs arr. Strommen (play-along)
Repertoire and Ensembles
The Study of Saxophone · Year 3
Additional Repertoire (2 of 2)
Handel, Adagio for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Handel, Marche for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Handel, Sonate No. 1 for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Handel, Sonate No. 3 for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Haydn, 3rd Mvt. for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Classens, Jerusalem for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Hovhaness, Suite for Alto Saxophone and Guitar
Ibert, Aria for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Ibert, Histoires for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Ibert, Mélopée for Alto Saxophone or Tenor and Piano
Lancen, Légende Heureuse for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Martin, Ballade for SOLO Tenor Saxophone
Planel, Suite Romantique for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Schubert, Ave Maria for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Teal, Solos for the Alto Saxophone Player with Piano Accompaniment
Vivaldi, Op. 3 No. 6 — 1st Mvt. for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Weber, Saxetto for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Williams, Six Studies in English Folk Songs for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Zaninelli, Autumn Music for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Ensembles (1 of 2)
La Bamba — Saxophone Choir (SAAATTB)
Loeillet, Sonate for Two Saxophones — Saxophone Duet
West, Hip to the Blues — 22 Duets — Saxophone Duets
NUNCA TUVO NOVIO PROLIJO — Saxophone Quartet
Fauré, Pavane — Saxophone Quartet
Londeix, Practical Exercises for Saxophone Ensembles — Saxophone Quartet
Mozart, Serenade No. 11 — Saxophone Quartet
Senon, Vingt Flash Jazz — Saxophone Quartet
Concierto en la Luna — Saxophone Quartet (SATB)
Naranjo en Flor — Saxophone Quartet (SATB)
Gillespie, A Night in Tunisia — Saxophone Quartet (SATB)
Blue Trane — Saxophone Quartet
Raff, Cavatina — Saxophone Quartet
Martini, Célèbre Gavotte — Saxophone Quartet
Mozart, Così Fan Tutte — Saxophone Quartet
Grieg, arr. Erickson, Folk Songs — Saxophone Quartet
Clérisse, Introduction et Scherzo — Saxophone Quartet
Pierné, La Veillée de l'Ange Gardien — Saxophone Quartet
Ensembles
The Study of Saxophone · Year 3
Ensembles (2 of 2)
Mario Bros — Saxophone Quartet
Memphis Underground — Saxophone Quartet
Joplin, Peacherine Rag — Saxophone Quartet
Françaix, Petit Quatuor pour Saxophones — Saxophone Quartet
Handel, So Shall the Lute and Harp Awake — Saxophone Quartet
Ory, The Kid — Saxophone Quartet
Grieg, The Last Spring — Saxophone Quartet
Haley, While Strolling — Saxophone Quartet
Wiedoeft, Saxophobia — Saxophone Quartet
Prati, Nine Negro Spirituals — Saxophone Quartets
Voxman, Repertoire for Saxophone Quartet — Saxophone Quartets
Blues Pentatônico — Saxophone Sextet (SAATTB)
Ericho — Saxophone Sextet (SAATTB)
Diabelli, Six for Three — Saxophone Trio (3 Altos)
Piazzolla, Adiós Nonino — Saxophone Trio
Depelsenaire, Concertino for 3 Alto Saxophones and Piano — Saxophone Trio
Piège à Trois — Saxophone Trio (AAT)
The Doubler's Path
Start flute in Years 3–4. Start clarinet in Years 4–5. Both instruments are lifelong companions, not temporary hurdles.
Flute — Introduced Years 3–4
Method books:
Trevor Wye, Practice Books for the Flute, Vols. 1–5
Marcel Moyse, De la Sonorité
Taffanel & Gaubert, 17 Daily Exercises
Repertoire entry points:
Bach, Flute Sonatas BWV 1030–1035
Telemann, Fantasias for Solo Flute
Hindemith, Sonata for Flute and Piano
Fauré, Fantasie for Flute and Piano
The flute is where classical technique is refined and a second embouchure vocabulary is built. The crossover with saxophone breathing and support is significant. Do not treat flute as a shortcut — it is a separate discipline that demands separate daily practice.
Clarinet — Introduced Years 4–5
Method books:
Klosé, Celebrated Method for Clarinet
Baermann, Complete Method, Vol. 3
Rose, 32 Etudes and 40 Studies
Cavallini, Caprices
Repertoire entry points:
Weber, Concerto No. 1 and Concerto No. 2
Mozart, Clarinet Concerto K. 622
Brahms, Sonatas Op. 120
Stravinsky, Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo
Clarinet demands a fundamentally different embouchure, a single-reed response that is more exposed than saxophone, and a tone production philosophy that is its own. The saxophonist who plays clarinet with saxophone habits sounds like a saxophonist pretending. Study it right: from the ground up, with a clarinet teacher if possible, at least in the early stages.
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