JAZZ SAXOPHONE
PREPARATORY COURSE
Intensive preparatory course in Jazz Sax, preparing to the admission to bachelor courses.
Individual jazz saxophone lessons, jazz ensemble music workshops from trio to combo-orchestra and 4-5 sax wind sections, jazz repertoire for studying Harmony, Ear training and Complementary Piano, Music Technology for pre-production of original projects.
Duration 1 to 3 years
Frequency 6 to 10 hours per week, in ordinary or long-distance mode
Where Rome
Language Italian/English
The preparatory course has a duration ranging from 1 to 3 years, depending on the student’s entry level and study ability.
Skills are acquired in the following areas:
- One-to-one jazz saxophone classes with a teacher of chosen by the student, preparing the student to the subsequent access to the Bachelor program, study of the jazz repertoire, technical studies of emission and intonation, major scales harmonized with seventh arpeggios, pentatonic scales, minor melodic and harmonic scales in seven keys, arpeggios of maj7 chords, min7, 7, m7b5, improvisational skills on blues and approach to other jazz songs of medium difficulty.
- Jazz ensembles from the trio to the quintet up to the big band, directed by professional jazz players, to practice the American, Italian and international jazz repertoire both in the classrooms and live on a stage.
- Section of 5 saxophones with rhythm section, to practice the saxophonist’s work in the orchestra section. Practice of the jazz repertoire with edited and also original arrangements specifically created by the students of the Master in jazz composition and arrangement, practice in the rehearsal room and in live concerts.
- Jazz piano study, jazz standards reading with theme and melody, accompanying rhythmic patterns, walking bass.
- Contemporary jazz harmony from the basics to 5-voice spread voicings, with tension and alteration, drops, altered scales, modal exchanges, and melody harmonization techniques.
- Jazz Ear training will lead each student to be able to transcribe melodies, chord progressions and rhythmic patterns from jazz standards, up to and including developing the ability to transcribe a mini-jazz song, without the aid of instruments.
- The student will acquire full mastery in the professional use of music production state-of the-art softwares in the recording industry state-of-the-art recording industry.
Once you have successfully completed the last pre-academic level of your main instrument or vocals you automatically access the three-year first cycle academic diploma (aut. Ministry of Education, University and Research)
The first cycle academic courses prepare for the professions of:
- artist and band leader of original projects
- jazz saxophonist for live performance and recording session
- arranger for small and medium ensembles
- music producer
- music author for sonorizations and music applied to images
The Pre-academic Courses do not start from scratches, they assume a previous practice on the instrument of two to three years the least.
It is possible to access the first year of the course or to enter directly the second or third pre-academic year. For each subject the student will be admitted to the most appropriate level based on the admission tests: for instance, it is possible to be admitted to the 3rd level of sax, the second level of harmony and the first level of ear training, according to the student’s entry knowledge. Each subject will therefore follow its own path at its own level.
Admission tests are usually held in June and, for places remaining available, in September. International students can sit the admission tests online from February of the previous year until June the latest.
- Jazz saxophone rehearsal, performance of one or more pieces/exercises of the student’s choice, in-depth study required by the committee (go to “Admission Info and Study Plan” click on “Download Study Plan”)
- Jazz harmony test, see mock test for access to the 2nd and 3rd level
- Ear training test see mock test for access to the 2nd and 3rd level
- Aptitude test and motivational interview
