Saxophone

Very active on the international scene and in contemporary creativity, our permanent professor is not just a renowned solo artist and chamber musician, but also a committed educator.

In addition to the individual classes, our professor pays particular attention to the group learning sessions, with the aim of encouraging team spirit and group teaching. Every week, the students in the class get together for:

• Studio class: an open class where each saxophonist plays, with a piano, on their own or with a chamber music ensemble. The open discussions after each session help to get a better sense of how things could be improved, through constructive criticism.

• Geneva Consort: the HEM’s saxophone ensemble tackles a diverse and varied range of repertoires, often with special guests.

• Scales and technique class: one session a week, to focus on the core principles of the instrument.

• Jazz workshop: an indispensable tool when you are a saxophonist, which helps the students find their own sound, work on their sense of listening, and develop their ability to improvise.

The other important aspects of the saxophone class are:

• Working with the piano: the students have the opportunity to benefit from an accompanist on the piano, to take on the sonata with piano repertoire. This work is conducted in a rehearsal with the pianist, in a studio class, and during the individual classes.

• Chamber music: the students are encouraged to form groups with other instruments. Whether it be in Joshua Hyde’s contemporary chamber music class, or one of the other classes taught by renowned professors, they must create ties with other musicians.

• The Masterclasses: every year, the saxophone class invites renowned performers, composers, or improvisers to give Masterclasses. The students can thereby enrich their playing and develop their network of contacts.

• Creation: the saxophone class works closely with the composition classes and the HEM’s Centre de musique électroacoustique (CME). This enables the students to collaborate with composers from their own generation, while being guided by the school’s professors.

• Electronic music: the HEM’s Centre de musique électroacoustique (CME) puts IT tools and analogue tools at the students’ disposal, so that they can create electronic music. The students are encouraged to work with these tools, to produce mixed pieces or create their own music. The students gradually acquire mastery of the amplification and use of effect pedals, MaxMSP patches and Ableton.

• The Rencontres Genevoises de Saxophone: every year, the HEM opens its doors to saxophonists from the Geneva region for a day of concerts and Masterclasses around their instrument. This day enables the students in the class to present their projects, take part in organising a large-scale event, and enrich their network by meeting a large number of professional or amateur instrumentalists from the region.

Finally, the close ties that the HEM maintains with the region’s professional ensembles offer our students numerous opportunities to play in renowned ensembles such as the Orchestre de la Suisse romande (OSR), the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève (OCG) or the Ensemble de musique contemporaine Contrechamps.  The richness of the music scene in French-speaking Switzerland, the music-loving public and the numerous patrons mean that there are ample opportunities for engagement, to enrich their practice and develop their network of contacts.