The Study of Saxophone
Year 7
Bachelor's Degree ("Maîtrise") · 2nd Cycle (Years 4 to 8). 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 7 asks
EXAM REQUIREMENTS
1. Sight-Reading exam
2. Performance of selected piece for Saxophone and Piano or Solo Saxophone
3. Performance of a piece chosen by the saxophonist (Year 7 and above)
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
Methods
The Study of Saxophone · Year 7
Core Methods
Porret, 24 Déchiffrages (B)
Sousman, 30 Grands Exercices en 2 Cahiers
Piazzolla, Tango Etudes
Rousseau, High Tones for Saxophone
Seffer, Improvisations et Modes — Etudes sur des Modes Grecs
Additional Methods
Bozza/Mule, 12 Etudes Caprices
28 Etudes on Modes with Limited Transpositions (after Messiaen)
Reeves, Creative Jazz Improvisation
Londeix, Hello Mr. Sax
Londeix, Les Gammes Conjointes et en Intervalles
Coker, Patterns for Jazz
Repertoire
The Study of Saxophone · Year 7
Core Repertoire
Milhaud, Scaramouche for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Glazounov, Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Naules, Frissons for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Tomasi, Ballade for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Bach, 5ème Sonate No. 52 for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Faillenot, Rhapsodie Occitane for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Additional Repertoire (1 of 2)
Absil, Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Anderson, Sonata for Baritone Saxophone and Piano
Bach, Sonata in A minor for Solo Flute
Badings, Malinconia for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Bonneau, Caprice en Forme de Valse for SOLO Saxophone
Boutry, Divertimento for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Bozza, Concertino for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Bozza, Improvisation et Caprice for SOLO Saxophone
Cowell, Air and Scherzo for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Creston, Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Daneels, Suite for SOLO Saxophone
Debussy, Rapsodie for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Dubois, Circus Parade for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Dubois, Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Dubois, Pièces Caractéristiques en Forme de Suite for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Dubois, Sonate for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Eychenne, Sextet including Alto Saxophone (Chamber Ensemble)
Gotkovsky, Brillance for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Grundman, Concertante for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Heiden, Diversion for Alto Saxophone and Band
Husa, Elégie et Rondeau for Alto Saxophone
Ibert, Concertino da Camera for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Karg-Elert, 25 Capricen und Sonate for SOLO Saxophone
Koechlin, Sonatine, Op. 194/2, for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Repertoire
The Study of Saxophone · Year 7
Additional Repertoire (2 of 2)
Marcello, Oboe Concerto for SOLO Soprano Saxophone
Martin, Ballade for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Maslanka, Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Maurice, Tableaux de Provence for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Morosco, Blue Caprice for SOLO Alto Saxophone (Classical and Jazz)
Muczynski, Sonata, Op. 29, for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Pascal, Sonatine for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Planel, Suite Romantique for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Robert, Cadenza for SOLO Alto Saxophone
Rueff, Chanson et Passepied for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Rueff, Sonata (Leduc) for SOLO Alto Saxophone
Ryo Noda, Improvisations for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Ryo Noda, Mai for SOLO Saxophone
Scelsi, Tre Pezzi for SOLO Saxophone
Schmitt, Légende for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Schulhoff, Hot Sonate for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Singelée, Fantasie, Op. 89, for Soprano Saxophone and Piano
Smith, Fantasia for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Tcherepnin, Sonatine Sportive for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Tomasi, Ballade for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Veidhuis, Grab It for SOLO Tenor Saxophone
Villa-Lobos, Fantasia for Saxophone and Small Orchestra
Williams, Escapades for Alto Saxophone and Piano
Yuyama, Divertimento for Marimba and Alto Saxophone
The Year 7 Diploma (Maîtrise)
The Study of Saxophone · Year 7
Dissertation
5,000-word dissertation on all things related to the instrument. The precise subject will be imposed by the instructor. (12 pages maximum.)
The recital program
A recital program (to be imposed by the instructor) must include:
Two pieces written for Saxophone and Piano
One work for Solo Saxophone
One work for Musique de Chambre (Chamber Music)
A Contemporary Work for Saxophone incorporating modern techniques: multiphonics, harmonics, contemporary techniques, and written instructions for unusual sounds and effects specific to the saxophone
A Technical, Atonal Etude
Desired Competency
2nd Cycle (Years 4 to 8)
Deepening skills acquired in the 1st cycle
air column / breathing
development of a personal, mature sound
articulation
rhythmic, digital and timbral homogeneity
accuracy
flexibility
nuance
intonation
vibrato
And
Fluidity of technique as well as knowledge of alternative fingerings.
Ability to play "extreme" nuance, to tune alone, to control and correct intonation.
Ability to memorize music.
Sight-reading at the level of "working musicians."
Knowledge, technical facility, and musical maturity in contemporary music.
Understanding and application of the wide variety of music notation in contemporary music.
Knowledge and practice of chord-scale relationships; Jazz improvisation.
Listening skills, Jazz phrasing, memorization of easy jazz standards, and the ability to transcribe solos.
The history of the saxophone, the different epochs and styles, and important figures.
Understanding and application of descriptive and analytical vocabulary.
Ensemble performance — piano accompaniment — chamber music — ensemble of saxophones — orchestra, Jazz combos and Jazz ensembles — knowing how to conduct a set and a rehearsal.
Perform in public as a soloist.
Participate on a stage.
Promote general musical culture by listening to and performing music of all kinds.
The whole course
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