I am looking for advice regarding my proposed programme choice for the dipABRSM.

My main instrument is the alto saxophone on which I am self taught.

My biggest challenges have come from music theory and style, areas that I am slowly getting to grips with but I still struggle with.

My intended programme is a s follows:


G.P. Telemann Sonate E flat complete(arr.Jean-Marie Londeix) -Alto sax

J.S. Bach Sonata E flat BWV 1031 complete (ar. Leonard) - Soprano sax

Gabriel Pierne Canzonetta - alto sax

Trevor Hold Tango and Charleston - alto sax


I am a little concerned that the programme may be too focused on the Baroque era

Any advice or comments would be gratefully recieved

Regards Jane

to the forum!

With the saxophone, it's sometimes difficult to get what would be regarded as a 'balanced' programme : the obvious lack of classical era stuff (for equally obvious reasons) doesn't help. There is though a number of very good baroque transcriptions, which although you don't have to use them, can help in forming a good programme, and I see you've used a couple of good examples there. And that's the thing : to many other instrumentalists, a saxophone programme will invariably look either modern biased or baroque transcription biased. I think your programme is pretty well balanced, overall.

A couple of bits of general performance advice :

* Get lots of performance experience. Do a recital or two. Do a masterclass if you can. Maybe enter yourself for a music festival.

* I admire your self-taught-ness, but at diploma level especially, I'd very strongly recommend getting a second, and maybe a third opinion from good saxophone players/teachers on your programme and performing style.

Best of luck!

Thank you, I shall certainly try to get some more performance practice this may also help with the nerves.

Hello Jane, and

The thing that struck me is that you have two Sonatas in E flat next to each other. I see that one is for alto and the other for sop, and I have no idea whether these two transpose differently, or what difficulties that will present. But might it be worth playing things in a different order so that these two items are not next to each other in your programme?

Soprano sax is a Bb instrument, alto is Eb, but the parts will both be transposed such that the concert key is Eb major. I know both works, and although both are same key and Baroque, they are different enough, in my opinion, for it not be an issue : though I'd probably separate them with the Pierne.

Thanks for the clarification. I did wonder if either/both were transposing instruments and whether they transposed differently. I've never quite managed to get my head around transposition. At the risk of getting a slap, surely it's easier to just make up your own clef that nobody else understands?

You're a viola player - you already have that!