For individual or group learning.
The projects aim to improve aspects of your saxophone playing or teaching. Each project has a specific goal to work towards, such as a final recorded performance or the aquisition of a new skill or understanding.
The projects can be online or in person. Some projects have helpful deadlines to keep a project progressing: in a saxophone quartet project there might be a date by which all members of the quartet have to complete a task such as learn a section of music or record a section of music on a mobile device.
The projects take the following form:
- A well defined initial goal.
- A number of steps working towards the goal.
- A final result
All scores, audio tracks and materials are supplied with each step of the project, along with any video discussion or instruction.
At the end of projects based on performance, participants will be able to access a recording of their work.
Some projects are solo projects, with a saxophonist working alone, others are ensemble projects.
If you are interested in joining a project, please contact Sarah Markham.
-
Online Lessons
Have lessons with Yamaha and Vandoren sponsored artist Sarah Markham in your home. With a teaching career spanning over 35 years, Sarah enjoys teaching students of all ages and at all levels. A highly regarded teacher, Sarah is a Professor of Saxophone, and a tutor at the Royal College of Music junior department, Leeds Conservatoire…
-
Altissimo
Sarah Markham guides the saxophonist through the developmental stages needed for a secure altissimo range. Many saxophonists beginning their journey into the altissimo range start with a fingering chart. The problem with this first step is that fingerings are the least important element of the altissimo range. In fact, as you develop your altissimo you…
-
How to Teach the Saxophone
An eight part course given by Yamaha performing artist and Vandoren performing artist Sarah Markham. This eight part project is aimed at woodwind teachers wanting to develop their understanding of how to teach the saxophone. Sessions include thoughts on sound, mechanics, fingering, practise methods, articulation, vibrato, musical language and contemporary techniques. Each section begins with…
-
Pachelbel Canon Project for Saxophone Ensemble
Canon by Johann Pachelbel, transcribed by Sarah Markham. The Canon by Pachelbel is an iconic melody. It was written in the late seventeenth century for three violins and basso continuo. This arrangement is for saxophone ensemble, imitating ideas arising in the 1960s of augmenting ensemble parts to create a more orchestral sound. The baritone saxophone…
-
Fireworks Project for Saxophone Quartet
Fireworks by Karol Beffa for SATB saxophone quartet. The aim of this project is to produce a recording of a saxophone quartet work with musicality, nuance and cohesion working online. The aim of this project is to produce a recording of Fireworks, a saxophone quartet by Karol Beffa. The work is for the standard saxophone…
-
Treatise
An interpretation of pages from one of the most influential contemporary music scores: Treatise by Cornelius Cardew. Treatise is a graphic score and there are no performance instructions from the composer. You make your own choices as to how to interpret what you see. The aim of this project is to produce between one and…
-
Faster, Higher, Louder, Longer
Learn Sarah’s eXtreme approach to developing your technique! Using different ways to practise we can learn how to unlock technical barriers and take musicmaking to a different level. The aim of this workshop is to break through barriers that hold us back from reaching our potential. We push the limits of our playing in order…
-
Canonic Suite Project for Saxophone Quartet
Canonic Suite for four alto saxophones. Elliot Carter (December 11, 1908 – November 5, 2012) is one of the most influential American voices in classical music, and a leading figure of modernism in the 20th and 21st centuries. Hailed as “America’s great musical poet” by Andrew Porter and noted as “one of America’s most distinguished…
-
Three Angels Project for Saxophone Ensemble
Three Angels for saxophone ensemble by Kenneth Wilkinson. Three Angels is an exploration of communication between composer and performers; notation and symbols representing an imagined and emotive sound world. The score of Three Angels is a representation of sound and texture rather than a more usual notated score. The composition is similar to a painting,…
-
Multiphonics
How to Play Multiphonics. The use of multiphonics, along with other advanced techniques, are often used in saxophone compositions. This project discusses multiphonics, covering topics such as: There is guidance relating to different practise methods and how to overcome obstacles you might face. This workshop can be done online or in person, as a group…
-
Slip Reel Project for Saxophone Ensemble
Slip Reel by Catherine Evison is a work for saxophone octet with an audio percussion track. The aim of this project is to produce a recording of a saxophone ensemble work with percussion track. This project can be done in person or remotely online. Elements such as creating a sense of style and excitement as…
-
Vi Project for Saxophone Ensemble
Be part of a saxophone ensemble performing Vi by Charlotte Harding. RCM alumnus Charlotte Harding was commissioned in 2017 to compose Vi by the Love Music Trust Saxophone Ensemble. Vi is written for solo lead soprano, lead alto, and lead tenor saxophone with saxophone ensemble. In 2020 Charlotte performed Vi at the annual University of…