Q&A for Prospective Students
For High School Students
How many saxophonists are in the studio? There are about 18 students in the studio. There are usually 4 graduate students; the rest are undergraduates majoring in performance, jazz studies, music education, popular music and composition. 2023 UPDATE: there are 24 people in the studio!
Will I study with Prof. Shner or a Graduate Assistant? If you are a music major it is very likely will be taking lessons from Professor Shner.
What saxophone should I play at my audition? Perform on the saxophone you have most experience playing. For example, if you play tenor saxophone most of the time, you should audition on tenor.
What should I play for my audition? If you intend to be a saxophone performance major or a music education major, then your audition will have four parts: etude, scales, repertoire and sight-reading. Etude: Play two etudes, one in a slow tempo and one in a fast tempo. Use W. Ferling: 48 Études (Leduc).
Scales: Be ready to play all major and harmonic minor scales. Scales are to be performed all slurred, using the full range of the saxophone: start on the first scale degree, play up the scale to high (“palm”) F or F#, down to low Bb or B, and back to the starting note. Since we will not have time to hear all scales, we will ask you to play two or three of them, for example: F# major, Ab major, and Bb harmonic minor. Scales are evaluated by consistency and note accuracy, not speed.
Repertoire: Play a movement or excerpt from a concerto or sonata.
Suggestions for alto and baritone saxophone: Glazunov, Alexander / Concerto in Eb, Op. 109 (Leduc); Creston, Paul / Sonata Op.19 (Shawnee); Maurice, Paule / Tableaux de Provence (Lemoine); Heiden, Bernhard / Sonata (Associated Music Publishers).
Suggestions for tenor saxophone: Vivaldi, Antonio / Sonata in G Minor (McGinnis & Marks); Vivaldi, Antonio / Concerto in Bb, F. VIII, No. 35 (MS); Anderson, Garland / Sonata (Southern music); Singelee, Jean-Baptiste / Concerto No. 1 for tenor saxophone (Alfred); Frackenpohl, Arthur / Sonata (Dorn); Di Pasquale, James / Sonata (Southern music).
If you are auditioning for our Jazz Studies program: Your audition will have four parts – improvising, sight-reading lines, sight-reading changes, and scales.
Improvising: There will be a live rhythm section at your audition, comprised of graduate students and faculty. Be prepared to count off, play the head, and solo over three jazz standards of your choice. The standards should be in different, contrasting tempi (for example: a blues, ballad, and fast swing).
Scales: Be ready to play all major and harmonic minor scales. Scales are to be performed all slurred, using the full range of the saxophone: start on the first scale degree, play up the scale to high (“palm”) F or F#, down to low Bb or B, and back to the starting note. Since we will not have time to hear all scales, we will ask you to play two or three of them, for example: F# major, Ab major, and Bb harmonic minor. Scales are evaluated by consistency and note accuracy, not speed.
Saxophonists who wish to be jazz studies majors do not need to prepare classical repertoire or an etude for their audition.
For GRADUATE Students
Do you have room in your studio for another graduate student? Prof. Shner is only concerned with quality, not quantity. There is always room for outstanding saxophonists! The exact number of this or that major is never capped nor set to minimum quotas.
What about Graduate Teaching Assistantship? The saxophone studio has one Graduate Teaching position (Graduate Employee in UO lingo). Saxophone studio GE duties include teaching eight music majors, coaching a quartet, and teaching the saxophone section of MUE 392, Clarinet and Saxophone Techniques, to music education majors. All GEs receive full tuition waiver (in or out of state), generous health insurance, and a monthly stipend.
A note to jazz saxophonists: the jazz studies area has several jazz GE positions; usually some of them are awarded to saxophonists. Jazz GE duties can include any combination of the following: directing a jazz band, coaching a combo, assisting with jazz history class, and/or teaching applied jazz lessons. For more information, please visit http://jazz.uoregon.edu/ or contact Paul Krueger kruegerp @ uoregon.edu
What should I play for my audition? Download the Shner Studio Syllabus from this website and consult the repertoire list appropriate for graduate studies. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact Prof. Shner at ishner @ uoregon.edu .
For both pre-screening and audition, program at least three selections that are contrasting in style. Duration can be from 15 to 30 minutes. Here is an example of effective programming:
- A Transcription (ex. Bach, Brahms, Piazzola)
- A movement from a concerto (ex. Dahl, Husa, Tomasi)
- A modern piece (ex. Feld, Denisov, Tower, Albright, Bolcom, Berio)
This is not to say you must include a transcription in your materials; this is just a vehicle to create variety of styles.
It is not necessary to include more then one kind of saxophone in the recording you send – but if you have lots of experience playing soprano (or tenor, or bari) that is something you can showcase.
The UO Saxophone Studio offers a fantastic opportunity for saxophonists to immerse themselves in the world of jazz, complementing the ethos of The New York Jazz Workshop in fostering a strong sense of community and excellence in music education. With its commitment to world-class instruction and the incorporation of elements of jazz, this studio provides a nurturing environment for saxophonists to develop their skills and passion for music. It’s a testament to the enduring influence of jazz on music education and the dedication of institutions like The New York Jazz Workshop to enriching the lives of musicians of all ages.