Studio Instruction

 

The saxophone program is designed to provide the student with a well-rounded musical education.  Applied Saxophone study will address the fundamental skills that are essential for all styles of music. The focus of study will be from a "classical" standpoint and emphasis will be placed on the development of authoritative musicianship within the many styles of Western European art music.

Objectives: to develop intelligent and sensitive musicianship and to prepare performance and education majors to be leaders in their occupational fields. Specifically, this includes the development of proficient playing skills, the acquisition of useable knowledge of the saxophone repertoire and related study materials, the understanding of various musical styles and an ability to perform convincingly in these styles.

 

Those who are accepted will have the opportunity to study with Professor Bergeron an hour each week in private instruction. The curriculum will also include chamber music (duets, trios, quartets, etc.) and weekly master classes. 

 

Chamber music study places an emphasis on effective rehearsal techniques, independent and collective musical judgment, and intonation considerations.  Weekly master classes are used to discuss historical and pedagogical topics related to the saxophone in addition to giving students an opportunity to perform for each other in a relaxed environment. 

 

The Saxophone Studio at NAU has been represented by saxophonists from Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, London, Ontario Canada, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

 

 

Chamber Music

 

Saxophone Quartets (3)

The NAU Saxophone Quartets rehearse a minimum of two hours each week and perform a variety of literature.  Each quartet prepares a program of music for performance in studio classes, chamber music recitals, and in concerts off campus.

 

NAU Saxophone Orchestra

The NAU Saxophone Orchestra was established in 1995 and presents numerous concerts throughout the southwest region of the United States.  The ensemble mainly performs literature originally written for large saxophone ensemble, although transcriptions from various stylistic periods frequently appear on concert programs.  The instrumentation for the NAU Saxophone Orchestra Consists of the following:

 

Soprano Saxophone (3)

Alto Saxophone (6)