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Q. How many saxophone students are there at Indiana
University?
A. Typically there are 35 to 40 music major saxophonists.
Q. How many saxophonists audition for admission each year and
how many are accepted?
A. Typically 50-60 students audition for Indiana University each
year. Students who play at the level required for admission are
admitted. We do not employ a waiting list. Therefore, the number of
students admitted each year varies from approximately 15 to 25. The
number of new students who enroll each year varies from
approximately 7 to 15.
Q. Do all students study with faculty or do some study with a
graduate assistant?
A. Currently all students do study with faculty each week. Some
freshmen and sophomores spend 30 minutes each week with an Associate
Instructor and 30-60 minutes with a faculty member. All students
attend master classes with faculty members as well.
Q. Are there guest artists that visit IU?
A. We have had numerous high-profile guest artists representing both
classical and jazz idioms. Classical guest artists have included
Joseph Lulloff, Jean-Yves Fourmeau, Yoshiyuki Hattori, William
Street and Jean-Marie Londeix, Joseph Wytko, the Zagreb Saxophone
Quartet, and Nobuya Sugawa. Jazz guest artists have included David
Liebman, Greg Osby, Dick Oatts, Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, Kenny
Garrett, Jim Snidero, Eric Alexander, Ron Blake, and Tony Dagradi.
The jazz department is able to bring in several guest artists each
year by collaborating with the local jazz society, Jazz from
Bloomington, as well as other local/regional concert
presenters. Other guest artists have included John Scofield, Danilo
Perez, John Abercrombie, Christian McBride, Dave Holland, Dave
Douglas, David Berkman, Ingrid Jensen, Astral Project, and more.
Q. What do your students do once they leave IU?
A. Saxophonists who have attended the IU School of Music can be
found around the world teaching and performing. IU saxophonists are
found in the top military bands (jazz and classical), in university
teaching positions, touring as musicians playing in a variety of
styles (jazz, classical, rock, etc.), playing on Broadway, touring
with Broadway shows, teaching in the public schools, and working as
free-lance musicians and private lesson teachers.
Q. What do you teach in your lessons?
Professor Murphy: I teach fundamentals; I focus on scales,
scale patterns, tone production, vibrato, intonation, and
articulation, as well as extended techniques. Each week students
prepare etudes and solo repertoire. They regularly prepare
repertoire with piano accompaniment. Students also study orchestral
excerpts, sight reading, and duets. I play with the students often
in their lessons. I feel it is important to emphasize that every
student is taught as an individual.
Professor Walsh: My jazz students—in addition to focusing
on fundamentals of the saxophone (tone, vibrato, articulation, and
technical issues)—work on memorizing jazz tunes, transcribing solos
by master players, sightreading, styles (jazz, classical, rock,
funk, etc.), classical etudes and pieces, technical materials
(scales, arpeggios, and other patterns), ear training, and various
improvisational concepts. Aside from developing a strong foundation
on the saxophone, I feel that one of the most important things for
me to teach my students is the essence of the creative process—in
other words, how to develop an individual voice.
Q. Are there saxophone master classes?
A. Yes. Professor Murphy teaches regular classical master classes
and Professor Walsh teaches regular jazz master classes. Master
classes are an opportunity for students to perform for each other
and for faculty and students to give presentations on special topics
such as reed working, repertoire, saxophone history, etc.
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