Saxophone Studio

While saxophone activities have been taking place at the Eastman School of Music for more than 70 years – since the founding of the Eastman Wind Ensemble in the 1950’s and through Sigurd Rascher’s summer workshops in the 1960’s – the study of the instrument at Eastman effectively began in 1972, with the appointment of Ramon Ricker as the school’s first professor of saxophone. In 2004, Chien-Kwan Lin was appointed as the school’s second professor of saxophone, and currently presides over the studio’s expansion and continued legacy of excellence.

For over five decades, Eastman saxophone graduates have been prominent educators, award-winning performers, and important contributors to the American cultural life. As a globally renowned studio, Eastman saxophone students have consistently distinguished themselves as prizewinners in prestigious competitions at the national and international levels. Click here for a recent article of the studio in the Rochester Review.

The saxophone studio averages twenty students across three degree programs. All students study with Professor Chien-Kwan Lin, as well as other internationally renowned artists through ongoing faculty exchanges, ensuring Eastman students’ constant exposure to a wide range of teaching and performing styles. Recent artists who have taught and performed at Eastman include Ancia Quartet, Kuninobu Bando, Griffin Campbell, Vincent David, Claude Delangle, Susan Fancher, Jean-Michel Goury, Masato Kumoi Quartet, Lars Mlekusch, Alfonso Padilla, Kenneth Radnofsky, Rodrigo Vila, and XASAX.

Designed to help students attain the highest levels in artistry, scholarship, and leadership, Eastman degree programs ensure pragmatic training through a rigorous yet versatile curriculum within a conservatory setting. Visit the links to the left for more detailed information.

All Eastman saxophone students enroll in the following degree programs.  Roughly two-thirds of the saxophone studio consists of students in the Bachelor of Music degree, either as Applied Music (Performance) majors, Music Education, or both.

Bachelor of Music – Performance, Music Education

Master of Music in Performance and Literature

Advanced Diploma in Performance

Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance and Literature

The performance curriculum for saxophone studies at Eastman generally involves the following four facets:

 

LESSONS

Undergraduate Level

It is expected that every saxophone student at Eastman develops into a superior practitioner of the instrument. As the basis for all instrumental studies, lessons are the primary focus of every member to the studio. A system of “chops building” is implemented during first year, which includes exercises for finger technique, articulations, tone and range building, as well as exercises aimed at cultivating the student’s ability to become an expressive performer. The study of the instrument’s standard repertory across a wide spectrum plays an important role in the student’s development as a saxophone performer, and will be assigned according to the student’s current level. Upperclassmen are encouraged to participate in national level competitions, symposiums, master classes, and actively seek other professional opportunities.

The minimum performance requirement includes a half recital at the end of the first year, and an annual full-length recital from sophomore year and beyond. All weekly, hour-long lessons are taught personally by Professor Lin.

Graduate Level

Graduate saxophone students are expected to have attained a high degree of proficiency on the instrument. Lessons at this level are highly individualized. In cases where certain aspects (especially technical skills) of a new graduate student are determined to be deficient, some “remedial” studies on such skills will be revisited during the student’s first semester. All graduate students are highly encouraged to participate in national and international level competitions, symposiums, master classes, and actively seek other professional opportunities.

For DMA students, strong emphasis will be placed on teaching, as well as creating a marketable Curricula Vita upon graduation, hence repertoire choice will compliment specific projects and commitments undertaken by the student throughout his/her period of study.

Minimum performance requirement is determined upon consultation with Professor Lin, with one full-length recital per year being generally required. All weekly, hour-long lessons are taught personally by Professor Lin.

 

CHAMBER MUSIC

The importance of cultivating musicianship through chamber music cannot be understated. Hence a strong emphasis on the saxophone chamber music program has been put in place since the beginning of Professor Lin’s tenure. Eastman student saxophone quartets have garnered three Gold Medals at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, four First Prizes at the Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Competition, as well as Grand Prizes at both the Coleman and Plowman Chamber Music Competitions.

Virtually all Eastman saxophone students participate in saxophone quartets. Graduate level quartets are coached by Professor Lin, while undergraduate quartets work with graduate teaching assistants.

Participation in other chamber instrument combinations is also encouraged, with potential instruction from other Eastman faculty members.

 

STUDIO ENSEMBLE

All members of Professor Lin’s studio are involved in his studio ensemble – the Eastman Saxophone Project (ESP). Part assignments for ESP are determined by Professor Lin and the current Assistant Director. The ensemble provides a platform for every member of the studio to perform together, frequently on transcriptions of masterworks written before the instrument’s invention. Through its high degree of student involvement, ESP also acts as a laboratory for saxophone students’ development of an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset.

 

LARGE ENSEMBLES

Wind ensemble music is a staple for saxophonists in the large ensemble setting. Eastman saxophone students perform extensively in one of our two wind ensembles throughout their degree. Part assignments are determined by Professor Lin, and are designed to rotate students’ seating throughout the academic year. Large Ensemble participation is not a requirement for DMA and 2nd Year MM students, although it can still be taken as an elective credit.

Eastman Wind Orchestra – First-years and Sophomores

Eastman Wind Ensemble –Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate students

 

Other Ensemble Opportunities

Musica Nova (as needed)

Orchestras (as needed)

Jazz Bands (opened to auditions)

During Eastman’s six-weeks summer sessions, saxophone students from around the world can attend the Eastman Summer Saxophone Institute.

The Eastman Saxophone Project (ESP) is directed by Chien-Kwan Lin and is comprised of his studio at the Eastman School of Music. Colin Crake serves as the ensemble’s Assistant Director and chief arranger. Since their founding in 2010, ESP has quickly become one of the most recognized saxophone ensembles in the world. They made their New York debut at Steinway Hall in 2011, were the featured ensemble at the recent North American Saxophone Alliance Conference and have appeared on National Public Radio through WXXI’s Backstage Pass. In addition to multiple outreach concerts, ESP performs two full-length productions a year in Rochester, New York. The ensemble also made their Kennedy Center debut in 2015, and embarked on a China tour in Beijing, Jinan, Ningbo, and Shanghai in 2016. Archived performances of ESP are shared through the EastmanSaxProject channel on YouTube.

ESP is a Vandoren and Conn-Selmer Artistic Ensemble and endorses Selmer (Paris) saxophones.  The ensemble recently celebrated its 10^th Anniversary by launch the ESP Education Series (ESPES). For this and more information, about ESP please visit: www.eastmansaxophoneproject.com