Hey everyone, here is the homework for this week!

Susan:

  • Keep working on your minor/major scales (C and A, F and D, G and E). Aim to have your major scales at 60, eighth notes, and minor scales at 70, quarter notes. You can also spend some time working on different intervals pertaining to each scale (eg. thirds, fourths, etc.)
  • Try to get used to playing left C/F! Work on the two Galper exercises we looked at that focus on this.
  • Keep working on your band music.

Aubrey:

  • Keep working through your major scales – C, G, F, D, Bb and A (and their corresponding arpeggios). Focus on D, Bb and A. Remember to use more air in the altissimo register (above high C) so the notes speak, and to back off and play more quietly over the break (B, C, D, E, F, etc.)
  • Pay attention to your fingers – make sure your ring fingers aren’t hitting the trill keys, and keep your fingers closer to the keys.
  • Work on coming in in the right place with the swing piece. Think one-and-two-and-three-and-four-and. And remember – the emphasis should fall on the downbeats – not the upbeats (eg. an eighth note on the and of four should not be accented).

Thomas:

  • Thomas is working on his C and F major scales. Make sure he is practicing these with the metronome on 60 – two beats each.
  • We started looking at a new piece – Minuet. Thomas should be practicing the first two bars, and if he gets them together, then the next two bars. Remind him to keep his fingers as close as possible to the keys so he can get to his notes in time.

Frazier:

  • http://www.rrcs.org/Downloads/Eb%20Alto%20Sax%20Fingering%20Chart5.jpg
    Here is a link to a fingering chart! Work on your fingerings from C# down to low C, AKA the chromatic scale. Practice with the metronome at 60, holding each note out for four beats.
  • Try practicing C major scale.
  • Remember what we talked about – think “hot air” when you’re blowing into the saxophone. This will help with notes in the lower register.

Camille:

  • Fur Elise – It’s going really well! If anything, Camille just needs to “clean up” a couple of transitions note to note. She can also practice the slow out of time section going back into the main theme.
  • Camille can keep practicing through her band music.

Audrey:

  • Start your practice sessions with your chromatic scale, up then down. Put the metronome at 60 and play whole notes. Remember to use lots of air once you’re in the upper octave.
  • Practice your C major and F major scales and arpeggios with the metronome as well.
  • Keep working on your band music.