Justin Pierce

Inspired by hearing all of the OBU instrumental majors play tunes in different keys in their mid-semester boards yesterday. Spent about 30 minutes in Db this morning (concert B). Blues, rhythm changes, tuning, learning melodies, etc. Db is so close to the key of C, but so different! 🎶

OBU Music senior saxophonist Alex Benito preparing for his senior recital. His main horn went into the shop for a tune-up yesterday, but that didn’t slow him down a bit! 🎷🔥 This is a third stream composition called “Blue Caprice” by Victor Morosco which draws from classical and jazz styles.

This Summer, I did a good bit of remote recording work for an arranger friend. I usually record the alto and tenor ensemble parts and one solo, but for this one, he asked me to trade solos with myself on alto and tenor. Made me compare how I approach both instruments, and remember that I play in E less than A! 🤣

🎷When there is a long line of 16th notes, practicing a beat or two at a time is a great practice tool. This process establishes anchor points, so that you can recover quickly when a mistake occurs (and they will!). 😲 I will discuss this technique and many more Monday night during an in-depth masterclass on the TMEA saxophone etudes. After going through the audition process myself and mentoring hundreds of students on this music, I am glad to equip high school saxophonists with the tools for success. Register at https://www.inharmonylessons.com/bookings-checkout/tmea-concert-band-saxophone-masterclass

“Confirmation” in two keys (original Eb alto key and Bb tenor/soprano key) for ’s Texas A&M University Kingsville . 🎷 Learning Charlie Parker tunes with the same fingerings he used on alto has a lot of value to understand his inflections, articulations, etc. After that, it is fun challenge to make it feel natural a fourth/fifth away in the Bb key with less ideal fingerings. Some of my favorites to play on Bb horns (& sometimes clarinet 👀) are this tune, “Donna Lee”, and “Billie’s Bounce”. Saxophonists, what Parker tunes do you like to play on Eb vs Bb?

Sometimes, the key to great improvisation is to use less melodic vocabulary in multiple contexts. Here is a ii-V-I Lick in Three Contexts over F Blues & Autumn Leaves:

- the ii-V-I progression in the last four bars of F blues
- the major ii-V-I in the first four bars of "Autumn Leaves"
- the minor ii-V-I in the second four bars of "Autumn Leaves"

Improv clinic this Thursday! Link in comments.