We can hear the music played by saxophone on many occasions in our daily life. For example, we can hear the sound of saxophone more frequently on special festivals such as New Year and Christmas. I believe that many students have also been interested in this instrument after listening to the timbre of saxophone, and even have the idea of learning to play it. However, both younger and adult students may encounter these problems when they choose to learn this instrument at the beginning: Do I want to learn the classic saxophone genre or the jazz saxophone genre? What is the difference between the classical and jazz genres? How can I choose?
The difference between the classical and jazz genres:
When we begin to learn saxophone, many teachers will let students begin to learn relevant basic skills. When students' ability is stable, we need to make a choice of music genre. However, there are still many students who do not understand the difference between the two genres.
The classical saxophone genrerequires us to perform according to the music score and express all the contents marked by the composer, so the classical saxophone genre performer is more like a transmitter to express the composer's thoughts and feelings. The Jazz genre needs the musicians to have good knowledge of music theory and the ability to improvise, because the musicians of the Jazz genre only get some chords on the music score, and there is no specific music score. Unlike classical musicians, jazz musicians need to compose specific music scores themselves, and even many jazz musicians will play different versions of the same music.
Now let's feel these two music genres first. You can also enjoy these two types of music to determine your preferences:
Classical genre:
Bach: Harpsichord Concerto No.1 in D Minor BWV 1052 (Jean Rondeau)
Jazz genre:
The Very Best of JAZZ – Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Norah John, Diana Krall, Ella
Fitzgerald
You should feel the preciseness of the classical genre and the freedom of the jazz genre after enjoying these two genres of music. However, we still need to pay attention to some problems when choosing the performance genre. The jazz genre of both classical and jazz genres needs a good foundation, especially many students misunderstand the jazz genre: Jazz is so free, as long as you can play the instrument, then you can play it! Jazz genre will never need long practice like classical genre! Jazz music is more interesting than classical music!
For the saxophone performers of the classical music genre, if the score is difficult, they can only practice more, because the classical music genre requires the performer to present the composer's creation perfectly. For jazz performers, although there is no need to practice indiscriminately according to the music score, when the band plays a piece of music with a speed of 300 or even 400, it is impossible without certain basic skills. Of course, the above is only the difference in music style between the two genres. In fact, the two genres can also be reflected in the performance and timbre of musical instruments.
Of course, you can also see a lot of accessories for classical or jazz style on the market. Many players who want to try different music styles will think that changing different accessories can change their performance style. However, different styles and genres of music are often defined by the tone of the music. The timbre of the classical style of color is more concentrated, and the overall timbre is very round and textured. The music of the jazz genre is more relaxed, the timbre is more softand metallic, and the requirements of the jazz genre for the music theory knowledge, improvisation ability and skills such as glissando and altissimo are generally higher.
Please feel the style difference between classical genre and jazz genre again:
Classical genre:
Claude Debussy – Rhapsodie, L 98 for alto saxophone and piano
Jazz genre:
Motown Jazz Smooth Jazz Music & Jazz Instrumental Music for Relaxing and Study Soft
Jazz
Young students:
For young students, who do not know learning direction or cannot make a choice, and at the same time, think that you should go to the saxophone ability level test with their parents, such as Abrsm, they should choose to learn from the classical saxophone music. Because so far, most of the tests of the ability level of saxophone are mainly based on classical music.
Adult students:
If you are an adult, or you do not need any requirement for the ability level test of saxophone, you can choose according to your preferences. However, if you choose to study jazz style, you must strengthen the study of music theory.
