Learning the altissimo register of the saxophone

Emma Jones

Name: Emma Jones Main Subject: Classical Saxophone Research Supervisor: Pete Saunders Research Title: Learning the altissimo register of the saxophone. Research Questions: What are the different approaches to teaching the saxophones altissimo register? Can a combination of these approaches lead to a confident and comfortable use of this register? Summary: This paper looks at how the altissimo register is taught by a number of performing saxophonists and teachers and how advice from lots of different voices can lead to the moment of understanding with the altissimo register. Several method books exist to help access the register but there are few resources for the initial stages of its performance. A collection of short studies based on selected standard repertoire have been composed as a resource for students who are approaching works that demand the use of the altissimo register. A recording of the study and the excerpt of the original material accompanies a small pedagogical text to help the reader towards success. Biography: Emma Jones is a British classical saxophonist. She graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire with a 1st class honours in 2015 studying under Naomi Sullivan and is in her final year at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. She aspires to perform regularly as an orchestral saxophonist and makes up half of the Element Duo who released their debut album in 2015.

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METHODOLOGY

My research was based around three elements, a questionnaire, a study book and recordings of those studies.

Firstly I sourced the main teaching resources and, with my research questions in mind, created a short questionnaire with which I hoped to gain an insight into which aspects had helped individuals with their own development from materials to exercises, stories, ideas etc.

The questionnaire was emailed to performers that I know through masterclasses, a saxophone chamber festival in Denmark, previous teachers, young performers and their own teachers. My research consists of responses from:

Name	Country of Origin	Occupation
Ali Wright	UK	Teacher at Univeristy Central Missouri, Trio Dionysus
Andy Tweed	UK	Teacher at Birmingham Conservatoire, Founding member of Saxtet
Claus Oleson	Denmark	Principal of Aarhus conservatoire
Christer Johnsson	Sweden	Teacher Royal Academy of Music, Sweden
Christoph Enzel	Germany	Tenor Saxophonist of Clair-Obscure quartet
Diane Hunger	Germany	Teacher at Fredonia - Cansias college, Mana quartet, Duo Klang par2
Eugene Rousseau	USA	Teacher at Indiana, Minnesota, Yamaha consultant
Fred Hemke	USA	Ex- teacher at Northwestern University, Chicago
Fredrick Olsen	Norway	Freelance musician
Guiseppe Fusco	Italy	Professor of woodwind, New Jersey City University
Hans de Jong	Belgium	Teacher at Antwerp Conservatoire
Javier Linares Leyva	Spain	Freelance musician
Johannes Thorell	Sweden	Freelance musician
Kyle Horch	USA	Head of saxophone at Royal College of Music, BVMG, Piccadilly Dance Band
Lars Mlekusch	Switzerland	Head of saxophone at Vienna Conservatoire, Zurich university of the arts
Masahito Sugihara	Japan	Head of saxophone at Sam Houston State University Texas, Awea duo
Michael Duke	Australia	Teacher at Sydney Conservatorium, Duo sax
Naomi Sullivan	UK	Head of saxophone at Birmingham Conservatoire, Syzygy quartet, Flotilla
Paul Cohen	USA	Teacher at Manhattan School of Music, New York University, Columbia University, Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College
Rusne Mikiskaite	Lithuania	PGDip Royal College of Music, London
Tiago Goncalves	Portugal	Teacher at Escola Profissional de Artes da Covilhã

Next I composed six studies that use elements from altissimo sections in standard repertoire for students who are starting to encounter the register. Each of these are accompanied by a paragraph with ideas and hints on how to approach practising it, referencing elements of the method books I had researched and pointing to relevant sections to read as well as suggested CD listening. I then recorded several of these studies myself to accompany the book, as this would be proof of my personal benefit from this research.

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