Resources
Fundamentals of Jazz Improvisation
https://content.byui.edu/items/be14498b-aa3f-4b2a-b9e6-4fb3fdbd1d12/1
This resource is a collection of essays written for my students. First at North Dakota State, and then at BYU-Idaho. Chapters are mildly proofread, often changing, and some are getting rather long. The link will take you to the chapters, which can be downloaded. Chapters are as follows:
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Listening
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Transcription
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Rhythm Vocabulary
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Theory 1
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Theory 2
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Practice Techniques
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Repertoire
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Lick Book
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Blues
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Rhythm Changes
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Improvisation Composition
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Cells and Digital Patterns
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Form and Structure
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Chord Progression
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Substitutions and Turnarounds
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Intros and Tags
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Protocols
Scales and Arpeggios
https://content.byui.edu/items/78780a36-88d6-4ea1-97e9-532ad11f5f70/1
The files here are for the development of technique via scales and arpeggios. The scale packets include five parameters to be played in 12 keys: Five Not Patterns, Nine Note Patterns, Full Range Scales, Additive Arpeggios (Ascending), Additive Arpeggios (Descending). The following packets are available. The packet labeled “Fingering Fundamentals” shows hand positions and alternate fingerings applicable to the exercises by means of photographs, notation, and fingering illustration. The “Intervals” packet moves scales to thirds and fourths while the “Arpeggios” packet adds variations on practicing arpeggios.
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Major
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Natural Minor
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Harmonic Minor
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Melodic Minor
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Intervals
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Arpeggios
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Chromatic
From the Inside Out Video
https://content.byui.edu/items/7f22255f-6f84-4cbf-a1e7-b5906d2ea74f/1
This link takes you to a list of chapters from my book From the Inside Out: An In-Depth Resource for the Development of Saxophone Sound. Videos can also be accessed by going directly to my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@markwatkinssaxophone
There are 106 annotated videos of a multiplicity of saxophone tone production mechanisms. The video includes fluoroscopy and endoscopy imagery.
Saxophone Literature
https://content.byui.edu/items/14872087-1c4b-403b-ab63-0e610f68bb5b/1
These lists are organized into instrument (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone) and level (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate). Every five years, the lists are updated. The item on the list that says “Fall 2023 Literature Project” is the most recent manifestation of these surveys. It is not fully refined at present. All instruments and levels are in a single document; black type indicates new considerations for the list, while red shows the previous list.