Quick viewing(Text Mode)

NASA Update Dr

NASA Update Dr

North American Alliance November/December 2006

in this issue... President’s1 Message

Greetings from sunny Florida! My term as president will end with the 2,3,4,5, NASA Nominations for coming of a new year. My two years It is time for the NASA membership to as President of NASA have been the Fall 2006 elect three new members to the high point of my 26-year affiliation NASA governing board. The nominat- with the Alliance. As I move to the 6,&7 ing committee, chaired by Jim Umble, office of Past-President, I would like has assembled an outstanding slate of to thank you for your support of candidates for this year’s election. I NASA and its programs and to SmartMusic encourage you to take some time encourage you to get more involved. 8,9,10 today to read candidate biographies There is always more to do! and cast your ballot. This is one of the most important things we can do to I am very pleased to be succeeded by help guide NASA in the years to Steve Stusek, a colleague who I have 30th Anniversary of the come. You will find your ballot en- come to know and respect highly over Navy Band International closed in this issue of the NASA the past few years. I know NASA will Update. be in good hands with him at the helm. Saxophone10 Symposium I look forward to working with Steve, As I write this message, two institu- and continuing to make my own tions are preparing proposals to host contribution to the future of the North the 2008 Biennial Conference. Both American Saxophone Alliance. locations are very promising. We can Regional Update look forward to an exciting conference Jonathan Helton, President 11 next year. Look for an official an- [email protected] nouncement of the dates and location on the NASA website.

The NASA Executive Committee is pleased to announce a new partnership IMPORTANT with MakeMusic, Inc. that will make ELECTION MATERIAL SmartMusic accompaniment and AND BALLOT practice software available to all of our INCLUDED members at a tremendous savings. See ...... details of this valuable new member PLEASE VOTE benefit in this issue of the NASA IMMEDIATELY Update. 2

NASA Nominations for Fall 2006 The ballot and voting information is in this Update President Elect: Applied Arts Award for Outstanding and to continue to grow as musicians Faculty”. Her students have won and people. Vive le Saxophone! national and international awards and perform and teach in North America and Europe. Richtmeyer’s latest solo CD, Extravaganza for Saxophone Timothy Roberts and was recently released by Albany Records and was reviewed as “…flawless...an extraordinary album...” by the American Record Guide.

Vision Statement

It has been my privilege to be a member of the North American Saxophone Alliance for many years and I have thoroughly enjoyed the Debra Richtmeyer has been Professor opportunities to perform, meet and of Saxophone at the University of hear saxophonists from around the Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since world. NASA is a family, and my own 1991 and has performed as a soloist experiences and enduring relationships throughout North America and Europe have culminated into an idea of how American Saxophonist Timothy and in Slovakia and the Czech Repub- NASA can be at the forefront of Roberts, a native of Richardson, lic. She has performed and/or re- promoting saxophone advocacy to its Texas, is Principal Saxophonist and a corded as featured soloist with numer- current and future members. As National Tour Soloist with the United ous , bands and entertainers, communication through the internet States Navy Band in Washington, DC. and in 1997 became the first woman to increases, many new opportunities to He is also Coordinator of the Navy perform as a concerto soloist with promote the saxophone have become Band’s International Saxophone orchestra at a World Saxophone available. If elected President of Symposium. Having performed for Congress. Richtmeyer has given NASA I would like to explore new four U.S. Presidents and throughout all master classes at numerous national ways of uniting and expanding the 48 states since joining the ensemble in and international venues, has served NASA membership to increase the 1987, Roberts is a regularly featured two terms as Second Vice President of promotion of the saxophone and its soloist on Navy Band National Concert the North American Saxophone music. By broadening the NASA Tours throughout the Washington, D.C. Alliance, and is an artist and clinician website to include more information area and around the world. for the Selmer Corporation. Previously and links to the world of saxophone, its a member of the music faculty at the music and its pedagogy, we can make As winner of the National Symphony University of North Texas from 1981- it possible for the general public, as Orchestra’s Concerto Competition, he 1991, Richtmeyer holds degrees from well as ourselves, to share the vast appeared as soloist with the orchestra , where she knowledge and experience that we at the Kennedy Center for the Per- was a student and teaching assistant of collectively enjoy. The common forming Arts. The Washington Post Frederick L. Hemke. Richtmeyer sentiment is that every year we are was on hand and described his perfor- received the 2002 University of Illinois busier than ever, and it therefore mance of Jacque Ibert’s Concertino “Campus Award for Outstanding becomes even more important for us da Camera as “simply stunning.” His Graduate and Professional Teaching” to have a way to stay connected, share and the 1997 UI “College of Fine and our experiences, learn from each other, (Cont’d on Page 3) 3

Timothy Roberts (Cont’d) in Shepherdstown, W.Va. Most exposure of our instrument, along with recently he served two successful the ranks of our membership down the 1999 concerto performance with the terms as Secretary of the North road. If elected to the position of Navy Band in Quebec was reviewed American Saxophone Alliance. President-Elect, I would work closely by Le Soliel as “The audience enjoyed with the rest of the Executive Board to the fluid technique, lightness of tone, Vision Statement affect innovative ways to further these and impeccable playing of saxophonist ideals. Timothy Roberts.” Most recently, the As a professional organization I would Dallas Morning News noted, “... the like to see us do more to promote an especially deft, lovingly played saxo- atmosphere that breeds an image of Secretary: phone lent (his) own magic.” the saxophone inclusive of all styles of Jan Berry-Baker Roberts makes frequent appearances music – one that all types of musical with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra patrons would want to come listen to. performing in Dallas, on European At our biennial conferences, too much festival tours, and on numerous of the music being programmed is recordings on the Dorian, Delos, and never receiving a second performance. Hyperion compact disc labels. He There are many ways to improve this. was one of three international saxo- Contemporary music is very important phonists chosen to perform with the - so we need to encourage more panel Orchestre d’harmonie du Congres discussions and workshops at our mondial du saxophone at the XII World meetings and in our publications on Saxophone Congress in , and programming techniques and the he later performed at the XIII and XIV proper ways to successfully commis- World Saxophone Congresses in sion new music. As educators we need Minneapolis and , Slovenia, to then follow through back home by respectively. His facilitating these types of discussions compact disc, Vocalise, is available on among our own local and university the Open Loop label. Roberts students, the future leaders of our Saxophonist Jan Berry Baker is a recently completed his Doctorate of membership. We also have a reputa- native of Alberta, Canada. As a soloist Musical Arts from the Catholic tion as being enthusiastic performers of and chamber musician, she has University of America, where he also a “newer” instrument. For this reason performed throughout North America, holds a Master of Music in Orchestral composers often flock to us, and we , Switzerland, Austria and the Instruments. He has had numerous need to do more to give our members Czech Republic. She has won top pieces composed especially for him, the right tools to teach selectivity in our prizes in numerous competitions most recently John Heins’ Concerto programming. including the Fischoff National Cham- for and Wind ber Music Competition, the North Ensemble, and Wilfred Holcombe’s Additionally, we have a much lower American Saxophone Alliance Con- Blues Concerto for Alto Saxophone. ratio of jazz saxophonists performing at our conferences than what exists in the certo Competition and the Johann Strauss Society competition. As an A strong proponent of music education, real world. Although we have always orchestral saxophonist, she regularly Roberts has published over thirty been an academically legit-based plays with the Lyric Opera of , columns for Saxophone Joumal. He institution, many of us know world- Grant Park Orchestra, Chicago has developed a popular master class class jazz colleagues in our own Philharmonic and the Peninsula Music entitled “Developing a Disciplined universities and schools. As individual Festival Orchestra. Her recent Practice Routine” that was premiered members of the organization we need recording of Barbara Kolb’s All in on a compact disc included in the to encourage these saxophonists to Good Time with the Grant Park magazine. Much in demand as a offer more of their expertise to us in Orchestra was released on the Cedille soloist with university and community both writing and at meetings. Educat- label in August 2006. Baker has been wind ensembles, Roberts also per- ing ourselves in a topic like “the broadcast in recital on CBC radio and forms with the East Coast Saxophone incorporation of improvisation into the WFMT Chicago and has premiered Quartet and maintains an active legit studio lesson” would do great teaching studio at Shepherd University things to increase the realm and (Cont’d on Page 4) 4

Jan Berry-Baker (Cont’d) Performance and Pedagogy from the Leo Saguiguit University of Illinois at Urbana- works by numerous composers, Champaign, where he was a student including M. William Karlins, William of Professor Debra Richtmeyer. Bolcom, Mark Engebretson, James While at UIUC, he was awarded the Mattheson, and André Ducret. Cooke Fellowship, served as teaching assistant for the saxophone studio, and As an educator, Dr. Baker has been won the woodwind concerto competi- lecturing at Northwestern University tion. At UIUC, Dr. Romain co- since 1999 and has been teaching founded the Red Onion Saxophone saxophone at the Chicago College of Quartet, an ensemble that has taken Performing Arts at Roosevelt Univer- prizes in regional North American sity since 2002. Beginning in fall 2006, Saxophone Alliance competitions and she will also teach saxophone at was awarded the silver medal at the Emory University in Atlanta. She was 2001 Fischoff National Chamber the sabbatical replacement for Dr. Music Competition. He has performed at Northwestern with the Des Moines Symphony University in 2004 and was Visiting Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Orchestra, the Champaign-Urbana and the from 1998- U of I Orchestras, and the Wyoming Leo Saguiguit is currently in his fifth 1999. Her principal teachers include Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Romain has year as assistant professor of saxo- Frederick L. Hemke, William H. presented premieres at the past two phone at the University of Missouri- Street, and Barbara Lorenz and she World Saxophone Congresses, in Columbia. Prior to this appointment he holds a Doctor of Music degree in Minneapolis and in Ljubljana, Slovenia. taught on the faculty of Northwestern saxophone performance from North- University with Fred Hemke. His western University. Dr. Romain holds prior degrees from fifteen years of college teaching also the University of North Texas, where includes positions at Emory University, James Romain he was a teaching fellow and a student the University of the South, and Truett- of Professor James Riggs. As a jazz McConnell College. He has also saxophonist, he has performed with taught for the National High School Clark Terry, Ron Miles, Eric Gunnison, Music Institute, Merit School of Music and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in of Chicago, and the Sewanee Summer Switzerland. Music Center.

Dr. Romain’s artistic mission focuses As a long-time member of the North on fostering the establishment of the American Saxophone Alliance, he has saxophone as a medium of serious performed for various regional and musical expression, and actively biennial conferences throughout the contributing to the establishment of a United States, as well as performances substantial body of serious music for at the . He the instrument, through individual served as coordinator of the classical commissioning of composers, consor- performance competition for two tium commission projects, and the biennial conferences. presentation of these works to the public through recitals, concerto Saguiguit has appeared as soloist and performances, and recording projects. chamber musician in performances at Dr. James Romain serves as Assistant festivals and universities throughout the Professor of Saxophone and Assistant United States and abroad. He has also Director of Jazz Studies at Drake collaborated with numerous chamber University in Des Moines, IA. He was ensembles throughout his career. He is the first saxophonist to be awarded the currently tenor saxophonist of the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Chicago Saxophone Quartet, one of 5

Saguiguit (Cont’d) David Stambler Jonathan Leshnoff, Suite for Saxo- phone by Mark Lanz Weiser, and the nation’s oldest professional en- compositions by John Harbison, sembles of its kind. As a member of Gunther Schuller, and Michael the Lithium, Impuls, and Enigma Colgrass through the Worldwide Saxophone Quartets, he has performed Concurrent Premieres and Commis- throughout the country and has sion Fund. Mr. Stambler has recently presented numerous premieres of commissioned Copland Award-winning works by today’s rising composers. composer James Grant to compose The Enigma Quartet was a prizewin- Concerto for Saxophone to be ner in the prestigious Fischoff National premiered in 2007, and John Anthony Chamber Music Competition. Saguiguit Lennon to compose a new work for has toured America and Sweden with Saxophone and Chamber trio. He has a chamber ensemble comprised of recorded with the Baltimore Sym- viola, , saxophone and mezzo- phony, the Baltimore Chamber Or- soprano voice. Other chamber music chestra, and the Capitol Quartet, and collaborations include performances can be heard playing clarinet and with Fulcrum Point New Music Originally from the Washington, D.C. saxophone on dozens of nationally Project (Chicago), Basel Saxophone area, saxophonist David Stambler has broadcast radio and television commer- Quartet (Switzerland), Thamyris established himself as a dynamic cials. As tenor saxophonist and Contemporary Music Ensemble teacher and musician throughout the arranger with the Capitol Quartet, he (Atlanta), the National Black Arts United States, performing both jazz and performs frequently in recital venues Festival, the Sewanee Music Festival . He active as a recital and with symphony orchestras nation- (Tennessee). and the Odyssey Cham- and symphonic soloist, and as “on-call” wide, including recent performances ber Music Series (Columbia, Missouri). saxophonist with many orchestras, with the National Arts Center Orches- including the Baltimore Symphony, the tra in Ottawa, Canada, and upcoming As an orchestral saxophonist, Saguiguit Annapolis Symphony, the Bay Atlantic performances of the Philip Glass has performed regularly with the Lyric Symphony, the National Gallery Concerto for Saxophone Quartet with Opera of Chicago, Sym- Orchestra, and the Baltimore Chamber the Baltimore Symphony in February, phony, Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra. He has performed at the 2007. Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, and the JVC Jazz festival, the Princeton Jazz Florida Orchestra. He has also Fest, the Smithsonian Institution, Mr. Stambler’s administrative experi- performed with the professional wind Strathmore Hall, the Kennedy Center, ence includes serving as President of ensembles Philharmonia à Vent and the French Consulate in NY, and many the Margot Music Fund, a 501-c-3 the New Sousa Band. Saguiguit has embassies in Washington. He has non-profit organization that raises appeared as soloist with numerous performed internationally in Japan, money for and sponsors scholarships, orchestras and wind ensembles and is China, Guatemala, Bermuda, Canada, performances and commissions. He featured in premiere recordings on CD Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, and held the position of Director of Jazz of the music of Luc Marcel and John Russia. He has accompanied many of Studies at Towson University in David Lamb. His live performances the top entertainers in the world today Baltimore, and, for nearly ten years, have been broadcast on Chicago’s including Rosemary Clooney, Smokey was the manager of a very prosperous WFMT and National Public Radio Robinson, Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, Jazz Band and booking agency in the Bobby McFerrin, Aaron Neville, Washington –Baltimore area. He is Leo Saguiguit was born in Baguio City, Melissa Manchester, Louie Bellson, currently Director of Operations for Philippines and grew up in Illinois and and many more. the Capitol Quartet, with more than 30 Georgia. He earned degrees from concerts and masterclasses scheduled Emory University and Northwestern Stambler has premiered numerous for 2006-2007, and for the past 2 years University, where he was a student of works for saxophone including Novem- he has served as Secretary for the Frederick L. Hemke. Other teachers ber by Elam Sprenkle with the Balti- North American Saxophone Alliance. include Stutz Wimmer, Paul Bro, and more Chamber Orchestra, Dos Jonathan Helton. Movimientos by Guggennheim-winner Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez with the Bay Atlantic Symphony, Five Portraits by (Cont’d on Page 6) 6

Stambler (Cont’d) where he was a featured guest artist Joseph Murphy for the 2004, 2005, and 2006 Yantai Mr. Stambler studied clarinet at the International Music Festivals and the Oberlin Conservatory, and then 2005 Xi*an International Arts Festival. received his Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone from The Dr. Leaman, in collaboration with , where he pianist Derek Parsons, formed the was a student of . He Ambassador Duo in 1990; and they holds the Master of Music degree have released three critically acclaimed from the Peabody Institute in Balti- compact discs on the Equilibrium label. more, and the DMA from the Univer- These recordings are entitled Brillance sity of Maryland. Mr. Stambler is (EQ-21), featuring the works of currently Professor of Saxophone at Bassett, Bolcom, Lennon, Kilstofte, and Penn State University. Gotkovsky, and Excursions (EQ-55), featuring works of Heiden, Maurice, Whitney, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Treasurer: Vaughan Williams, and Demersseman; Cliff Leaman and their most recent disc, Illumina- tions (EQ-77), features, among others, Joseph Murphy has been the saxo- three works that were written for the phone professor at Mansfield Univer- duo. Dr. Leaman is also featured on a sity of Pennsylvania since 1987. He variety of recordings of solo and has also served as department chair, chamber works for Redwood Records, director of bands and taught a variety CRS, and the University of Arizona of classes. He received the Bachelor Recordings. An avid supporter of of Music Education from Bowling contemporary music, Dr. Leaman has Green State University (‘82), and the commissioned and given the world Masters and Doctorate degrees from premiere performances of numerous Northwestern University (’83, ’94). works, including concertos by Pulitzer Dr. Murphy was the music director of Prize-winning composers, Leslie Tiffin (OH) Calvert High School from Bassett and Michael Colgrass. He 1983-85. In 1985-86 he received a gave the world premiere of the Bassett Fulbright Award for a year of study in Concerto and the XII World Saxophone Bordeaux, France where he received Congress in Montreal, with the Orches- a Premier Prix. In June 1996 Dr. Critics have hailed Clifford Leaman as tra Symphonique de Laval, and per- Murphy performed a solo recital at “intuitive, exciting, and enthralling… an formed the work at the most recent Lincoln Center. He has performed in artist of the first order...” (Paul NASA Biennial Conference with the France, Spain, Germany (1982 WSC), Wagner, The Saxophone Journal) “... Symphony Orches- Taiwan, Japan (1988 WSC), Canada [an] artist of technical brilliance and tra. His recording of the Bassett (2000 WSC), Slovenia (2006 WSC), emotional commitment.” “The range Concerto with the University of and Greece. He has hosted a Region 8 of colors is impressive...” (Jack Michigan Symphony Orchestra is conference, been Region 8 coordinator Sullivan, American Record Guide). available through Equilibrium Record- and has performed at many NASA Prior to his appointment at the Univer- ings (EQ-63). Dr. Leaman is an artist- events. He is a clinician for the sity of South Carolina where he is clinician for the Conn-Selmer Company, Selmer Corporation and has been Professor of Saxophone, Leaman Inc. and performs exclusively on recorded on Erol (France), Mark served on the faculties of Furman Selmer . University, Eastern Michigan Univer- Records, and Opus One labels. Dr. sity, and The University of Michigan. Murphy’s memberships include Music He is in great demand as a soloist and Educators National Conference, clinician, and has performed and Music Teachers National Association, taught throughout the United States, North American Saxophone Alliance, and in Canada, Italy, Spain and China, National Association of College Wind 7

& Percussion Instructors, College Band University. At the University of Symphony Orchestra, the Macon Directors National Association, Phi Mu Georgia he completed his Master of Symphony Orchestra, the Savannah Alpha, and . Music degree in Woodwind Perfor- Symphony Orchestra, and the Augusta mance and Doctor of Musical Arts Symphony Orchestra. Scott Turpen degree in Saxophone Performance. Dr. Turpen has recorded music for the His primary saxophone teachers have television series National Geographic included Kenneth Fischer and Ritchard Explorer and has performed and taught Maynard. Scott Turpen has earned clinics at several music events including the Jack P. Ellbogen Meritorious The Gene Harris Jazz Festival, The Classroom Teaching Award from the University of Georgia Saxophone University of Wyoming and a Perform- Performance Workshop, The Siskiyou ing Arts Fellowship from the Wyoming Saxophone Workshop, the Wyoming Arts Council. Music Educator’s Conference, the In demand as a performer and clinician Georgia Music Educator’s Conference, of jazz and classical music, Dr. Turpen and the Georgia Governor’s Honor has performed throughout North Program. As a proponent of new music, America and Europe. He has per- he has had many compositions dedicated formed as a guest soloist at the to him by such composers as Anne Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland Guzzo, Melvin Shelton, and Derek Keller. and at several national and regional Dr. Turpen has served on the Executive meetings of the North American Board for the Georgia Association of Jazz Saxophone Alliance. In addition, Dr. Education as treasurer and is currently Turpen represented the United States serving as the editor of the NASA Update Dr. J. Scott Turpen is the Director of Jazz when he performed at the XI, XII, and for the North American Saxophone Studies and Associate Professor of XIII World Saxophone Congresses Alliance. His solo saxophone CD, Music- Saxophone at the University of held in , Spain, Montreal, entitled Tableaux, is available through Wyoming. Originally from Nampa, Idaho, Canada, and Minneapolis, Minnesota music stores world wide. Scott Turpen is he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in respectively. His prior orchestral a Yamaha Performing Artist. Music Education from Boise State experience includes the Colorado  NORTH AMERICAN SAXOPHONE ALLIANCE FALL 2006 ELECTION BALLOT Please read the included biographical information on each nominee, mark your ballot and return only the ballot (a photo copy is acceptable) to Dr. James Umble, Chair, NASA Nominating Committee, Dana School of Music, Youngstown State University, Youngstown OH 44555.

All ballots must be postmarked no later than December 5, 2006 in order to be counted. Vote only for one candidate per office.

President-Elect: Secretary: Treasurer: _____Debra Richtmeyer _____Jan Berry-Baker _____Cliff Leaman _____Timothy Roberts _____James Romain _____Joseph Murphy _____Leo Saguiguit _____Scott Turpen _____David Stambler  8 SmartMusic Offer in This Issue The North American Saxophone Transpose to any key: Practice scales, Hindemith, Glazunov, etc.), and also Alliance is partnering with arpeggios, or twisters in all 12 keys. includes a rich variety of transcriptions SmartMusic® in order to bring exclu- Cursor: Optional cursor on the com- of easy-to-medium difficulty. sive key benefits to NASA members puter screen shows where the per- MakeMusic is currently working with a and their students. First, NASA offers former is in the music. broad range of publishers and artists to special pricing for a NASA SmartMusic Built-in tuner: Play reference notes so bring even more repertoire into the subscription. Instead of the standard that you can hear as well as see where SmartMusic library. Search the $100 per year, the NASA SmartMusic the pitch is. Fingering charts: Younger SmartMusic repertoire listing at subscription is only $25 per year and students can click on any note to see www.smartmusic.com. provides access to the SmartMusic primary and alternate fingering. accompaniment library of more than Record yourself: Instant feedback to Groundbreaking Intelligent Accom- 30,000 solo titles and 50,000 skill- listen to and perfect your performance. paniment® building exercises. Make CDs: Document your progress Intelligent Accompaniment is an and present to friends or parents. exclusive feature that encourages SmartMusic provides performers with performers of all skill levels to explore the interactive, effective practice tools Solo Repertoire: A Great Aid in various interpretations of their perfor- that help develop the many skills that Teaching Music mance. SmartMusic actually listens to intelligent, confident performance It is essential to learn the solo part in you as you play, and follows spontane- requires. SmartMusic enables educators conjunction with the accompaniment in ous tempo changes as you interpret the to guide, motivate, and document order to truly master a piece of music. music. When you speed up, SmartMusic individual student development. Through With SmartMusic, the performer can adjusts the accompaniment to match SmartMusic assignments, practice time learn the solo part in context with the your tempo. SmartMusic even waits as becomes a time of student self-discov- synthesized accompaniment. Tricky notes are held. ery and accelerated growth. rhythms can be perfected, intricate ensemble passages can be learned, and 50,000 Skill-Building Exercises the harmonic context can be internalized Included with SmartMusic are thou- before rehearsing with a live pianist. sands of scales, intervals, arpeggios, and This saves rehearsal time and results in twisters that can be practiced with a more efficient use of the time with the variety of articulations in any key and pianist. In rehearsal, more time can be tempo with multiple accompaniments. spent on the musical shaping of the Select from nearly every type of scale piece, and less time spent on just (major, natural minor, harmonic minor, learning the part and putting it together melodic minor, chromatic, whole tone, Main SmartMusic Interface with the piano. pentatonic, and diminished). The exercises are shown on screen, and the Fundamental Practice Tools for With SmartMusic you can adjust the notes you play are highlighted in real Saxophone Players tempo in order to master a phrase, and time (wrong notes are shown in red!). SmartMusic is the complete music gradually work it up to speed. You can Teachers can assign these exercises to practice system with accompaniments then record yourself (WAV or MP3 students, and assessments can be made to more than 30,000 titles in a variety of formats) in order to evaluate your of student performances that can be e- genres. Its features are too numerous to performance. Practice loops can be mailed to the teacher. describe, but here is a summary of key programmed to perfect difficult pas- features and benefits: sages. SmartMusic can even play the Make Your Own SmartMusic Files Practice at any tempo: Start slowly and solo line along with you so to make sure Do you want to create your own gradually work up speed. you are playing the solo part accurately. SmartMusic accompaniments? Finale® Isolate tough changes in practice loops: 2007 allows users to create their own Take the bars with tough changes and SmartMusic ships with accompaniments SmartMusic files. These files can be concentrate your practice on them, to quite a few of the standards of the accompaniment only or can be accom- getting faster gradually. saxophone repertoire (Ibert, Heiden, paniment plus music displayed on- 9

screen. All SmartMusic features automatically work: Intelligent Accom- paniment®, display music for any instrument, transpose to any key, optional cursor to show performers where they are in the music, click on any note to see its fingering, assessment with red and green notes, practice loops, practice at any tempo, and record yourself… all by just making a Finale file! Finale 2005 and Finale 2006 also have the capability of saving a file as a SmartMusic accompaniment.

This is a great way to learn new pieces. If a composer can send you a Finale file of a new work, you can use a recent Play By Ear Exercises version of Finale to save it as a SmartMusic file. This is an especially Starting with exercises simple enough like patterns that make explicit when useful way to learn a concerto, when for first-year students, SmartMusic chords change and what notes comprise you will only have one or two rehearsals establishes Play By Ear as a core skill them. SmartMusic facilitates this by to put it together. MIDI files can also be for all students. SmartMusic plays a displaying on-screen any of a number of imported into Finale to create phrase and then the student plays it patterns that automatically fit them- SmartMusic accompaniments. back. When the exercise is finished, selves to whatever is the progression of SmartMusic shows the students what the tune. With Finale, you can also create click they played correctly with green notes tracks to use with the SmartMusic and what they played wrong (notes or This means that students wishing to metronome. This becomes a very rhythm) with red notes. Optional hints learn Charlie Parker’s Bird Blues valuable tool when working with pieces are available such as showing students changes can see the lead sheet on- in changing meters that cannot be the first note of each phrase in order to screen or they can select to see any of played with a traditional metronome. get them started properly. Slowly but the following patterns: Tonics, 123, 321, steadily, students learn to listen closely 123321, 321123, 1235, 5321, 12355321, Needless to say, you can also create and play back what they just heard. 53211235, 1357, 7531, 13577531, and any number of exercises for your Only SmartMusic can provide the 75311357. If they select Tonics, for students. Scale patterns, articulation feedback that fosters self-discovery and example, SmartMusic displays the tonic exercises, warm-up routines: Create speedy improvement. of each chord throughout the tune. If them once and use them with all of your they select 123, SmartMusic displays 1, students. Just prepare your exercises in These exercises also include 20 blues 2, and 3 for each chord, taking into Finale and save them as SmartMusic tracks created by Wynton Marsalis’s account minor triads, flatted ninths, etc. files. musicians with licks for students to play If they select 12355321, then back just as they hear them. These SmartMusic displays 1235 on one chord Play By Ear Exercises tracks features blues in a variety of and 5321 on the next chord. SmartMusic’s Play By Ear helps styles: fast, slow, medium, New Or- students develop skills and ability to play leans, rock, etc. The licks to be heard Furthermore, players can wean by ear. How do students develop this and played vary from easy to, well, themselves of seeing the notated elusive skill? How can they privately challenging. Good luck! patterns by electing to have progres- practice playing what they just heard? sively fewer of the noteheads appear. SmartMusic provides a series of more Jazz Patterns for Any Tune Eventually they grow to be able to than 130 exercises that utilize call-and- How can students develop the vocabu- play the selected pattern with just response to guide and energize students lary of a chord or the grammar of a slash notation. to sharpen their ears. progression? By practicing Jerry Coker- (Cont’d on Page 10) 10 Smart Music (Cont’d) ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 30th Anniversary of the Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium On January 5 and 6, 2007, the U.S. lectures will be accepted before Oct. Navy Band in Washington, D.C. will 15, 2006 through the Saxophone hold the 30th Anniversary of its annual Symposium proposal link at the Navy International Saxophone Symposium Band’s website: at George Mason University Center www.navyband.navy.mil. Priority Jazz Pattern 12355321 shown in Bird Blues for the Arts in Fairfax, Virginia, just consideration will be given to peda- With some titles at standard tempos, it outside Washington, DC. Soloists for gogical proposals, along with perfor- will be impossible for students to play the Concert Band performance on the mance programs tailored for large th the patterns at first. That is why evening of the 5 will be Dale general audiences. A final schedule SmartMusic allows students to Underwood, founder of the Navy will be posted on the same site by practice at any tempo. Students Band Symposium, along with Philippe Nov. 1. working on 5321 with Confirmation Geisse of the Strasbourg Conserva- will probably start at a tempo far short tory in France and Timothy Roberts, Also on the Navy Band website is an of where Charlie Parker typically Principal Saxophonist and National historical chronology of the recorded it. But if they start slowly, Tour Soloist of the Navy Band. Symposium’s 30 years, with each they can gradually work up to their Saturday night’s performance on the year’s program and artists listed. th best tempo. The key is allowing 6 with the Navy Band’s Commo- students to practice things at any ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ dores jazz ensemble will feature The Saxophone Symposium is cur- tempo, especially slow tempos, so that international recording artist Mr. Chris rently sponsored by the U.S. Navy they can master how to do right it Potter. Over thirty classes and Band, Conn-Selmer, Inc. and the rather than master how to do it recitals will be held on Friday evening Washington Music Center. wrong. and Saturday during the day, along with instrument and vendor displays. How Does the Partnership Be- tween SmartMusic and NASA This will be the 30th year of the Navy Work? Band’s Symposium, a tradition begun Each member of NASA will receive a by Dale Underwood in 1977 and now unique code (distributed with this carried on by Timothy Roberts. Over issue of the NASA Update). This 1200 people attend each year’s code will allow you to purchase the Symposium – last year over 50 special NASA SmartMusic subscrip- NASA members either performed or tion for only $25. This is a significant attended, with the balance of the savings from the standard $100 attendance made up of the general subscription and you will be able to community. The Navy Band takes Update Staff: visit the SmartMusic site and generate special pride in the fact that the event codes for your students. They will get serves as an educational outreach to a Editor the same pricing as you—all because community-based demographic that you are a member of NASA. has an interest in the saxophone. J.Scott Turpen

For more information about Each year the band features one SmartMusic visit noted international and one domestic Art Direction www.smartmusic.com. guest artist for a concerto appearance Darryl Dean To learn more about the NASA offer by invitation. Other proposals for please see the announcement in this clinics, recitals, panel discussions, and newsletter. 11 Regional Update See NASA website for more information at www.saxalliance.org

Region II Conference Region V Conference Region VIII Conference October 27-28, 2006 February 23-24, 2007 January 19-20, 2007 University of Northern Colorado Vandercook and Illinois Institue of Penn State University Greeley, CO Technology University Park, PA host Andrew Dahlke host James Kasprzyk host David Stambler Region III Conference Region VI Conference Region IX Conference April 13-15, 2007 March 30-31, 2007 February 22-24, 2007 North Dakota State University Southeastern Louisiana University University of Regina Fargo, ND Hammond, LA Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada host Matt Patnode host Richard Schwartz host Karen Finnsson Region IV Conference Region VII Conference February 23-25, 2007 March 30-31, 2007 Southern Methodist University University of North Carolina, Dallas, TX Greensboro host Donald Fabian Greensboro, NC host Steven Stusek Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID North American Saxophone Alliance Laramie, WY Permit No. 1 Editor, NASA Update J. Scott Turpen University of Wyoming Department of Music Dept. 3037, 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, Wyoming 82071-3037

EXECUTIVE BOARD NASA REGIONAL DIRECTORS

President Director of Scholarly Membership Director Region 1: WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, AK Region 5: WI, IL, IN, OH, MI Region 9: British Columbia, Jonathan Helton Publications [cheh] Rhett Bender Jim Kasprzyk Alberta, Saskatchewan, Thomas Liley 2046 Voxman Music Bldg. Department of Music 33250 N. Island Avenue Manitoba, Yukon, P.O. Box117900 Department of Fine Arts Div. of Performing Arts, Southern Oregon University Wildwood, Illinois 60030 Northwest Territories Gainesville, FL 32611 Joliet Junior College School of Music, University of 1250 Siskiyou Blvd [email protected] Ross Ingstrup (352) 392-0223 Joliet, IL 60431 Iowa Ashland, Oregon 97520 3120 Quadra Street [email protected] (815) 280-2416 Iowa City, IA 52242 541/552-6534 Region 6: LA, MS, AL, Victoria, BC Canada [email protected] (319) 335-1660 FAX 541/552-6549 GA, FL, PR V8X 1G1 President-Elect Editor, Saxophone [email protected] www.sou.edu/music/bender.htm Griffin Campbell (250) 383-0673 Steven Stusek www.brittfest.org/saxworkshop.htm School of Music rossingstrup@fer-ocious Symposium Webmaster School of Music Stacy Maugans [email protected] Louisiana State Univ. productions.com Griffin Campbell Baton Rouge, LA UNC-Greensboro Center for the Arts Greensboro, NC 27402 School of Music Region 2: CA, NV, UT, AZ, CO, 70803-2504 Region 10: Valparaiso University Louisiana State Univ. (336) 334-5127/v NM, HI (225) 578-2586 VACANT Valparaiso, IN 46383-6493 Baton Rouge, LA 70803 [email protected] Jeff Benedict [email protected] (219) 464-5469/v (225) 578-2586 Cal. State L.A. [email protected] [email protected] Past President Music Department Region 7: KY, TN, VA, NC, Joe Lulloff Jazz Coordinator: 5151 State Univ. Drive SC, MD, DE, DC School of Music Rick VanMatre Los Angeles, CA 90032 Miles Osland Michigan State University Professor and Director of (213) 343-4099 Music Dept, East Lansing, MI Jazz Studies [email protected] Univ. of Kentucky (517) 353-5002 University of Cincinnati Lexington, KY 40506-0022 [email protected] College-Conservatory of Music Region 3: ND, SD, NE, MN, IA (606) 278-6420 Cincinnati, OH 45221 Russell Peterson [email protected] Secretary (513) 556-9447 Music Department David Stambler [email protected] Concordia College Region 8: NY, PA, NJ, WV, CT, Penn State School of Music Editor, NASA update Moorhead, MN 56562 MA, RI, VT, NH, ME Music Building 1 J. Scott Turpen (218) 299-4414 Gail Levinsky University Park, PA 16802-1901 University of Wyoming [email protected] Department of Music (814) 865-0431/v Dept. of Music Susquehanna University (814) 865-6785/f Dept. 3037, 1000 E. University Ave. Region 4: KS, OK, MO, TX, AR 514 University Ave [email protected] Laramie, Wyoming 82071 David Dees Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (307) 766-4252 School of Music, Box 42033 (570) 372-4266 Treasurer [email protected] College of Visual & Performing Arts Thomas Walsh School of Music Lubbock, TX 79409-2033 Indiana University [email protected] Bloomington, IN 47405 (812)855-4446/v [email protected]

Top View