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Saxophone

Saxophone

The ArtEZ Academy of Music in Zwolle has an international saxophone class of about eight students within ArtEZ, so you have many colleagues to work with.

The focus is on classical music, but from his background as an international soloist and chamber musician, major-subject teacher Johan van der Linden is used to broad approaches. Many styles and ways of playing are discussed, which he experiences every week in his own practice. Music is music and Johan is averse to pigeonholing. He teaches you to play the saxophone as an art, placing it in a musical context. Together with you, he will look for your technical and musical capabilities and then see how you can place them in the work field.

Students call the atmosphere in the saxophone class warm, friendly and convivial. But it is also hard work; the classical saxophonists are almost notorious for their work ethic. That has a very contagious effect. Before you know it, you are also part of this successful system. You team up for the best!

Together with students from Utrecht, the Zwolle saxophone students form a twenty-piece saxophone orchestra: the AHSO (ArtEZ/HKU saxophone orchestra). This orchestra performs about eight concerts a year, crisscrossing the Netherlands, with a repertoire consisting of special arrangements and music written especially for this orchestra. As part of ASHO, you learn to play together, travel together and work together. It is a playground where you really learn to master all facets of the art, but also just have fun and socialise with each other.

Johan van der Linden is an extremely proficient teacher with enormous performance experience in all kinds of line-ups and types of music. He is still a very active performer and you can follow him on all major stages at home and abroad. This means that he teaches directly from practice. Just ask for a trial lesson.

Specific admission criteria for Saxophone

In addition to the general admission criteria, there are also specific instrumental requirements. During the audition, you will perform at least one étude and a recital piece, unless indicated otherwise. The pieces mentioned are merely examples. You can also opt for other works of a similar level.

Your performing skills will be tested on the basis of:

  • major and minor scales and arpeggios (with up to six sharps and flats) along with the accompanying triads, to be played both staccato and legato;
  • at least two études to be chosen from: H. Klosé’s15 Études chantantes / 25 Études de méchanisme or J. van der Linden’s 36 Études in majeur / 36 Études in mineur (Bergez);
  • recital pieces: R. Clerisse’s Serenade Variée, J. Ibert’s Melopee, Large d’or, Aria, Histoires, D. Milhaud’s Danse or R. Planel’s Suite romantique.