1 of 3

  • To have good posture, not playing with force and whilst taking deep breaths.
  • Setup and take care of their instrument.
  • Use clear tonguing, articulation and stable tone.
  • Recognise and understand 4/4 and 3/4 time.
  • Play the notes from G to D.

Stages to Grade 1 – Saxophone

Stage 1: To obtain this level students need to be able to :

Aural Work

  1. Clap back a rhythm played by the teacher.
  2. Clap in time to the beat of a piece of music played by the teacher.
  3. Sing back 3 notes sung or played by the teacher.

Sight Reading�

Play music with G using a 5 note scale with simple rhythms of semibreves, minims, dotted minims and crotchets.

Pieces

Musical Moments Book 1

Sazza Samba, The Last Day

Essential Elements Book 1

38. Jingle Bells, 57. Ode to Joy

2 of 3

  • Use a steady stream of air to play long notes.
  • Understand 2/4 time.
  • Use the their upper high register.
  • Play notes using the F# and Bb key.
  • Recognise G major and F major scales.
  • Play scales using slurred articulation.

Stages to Grade 1 – Saxophone

Stage 2: To obtain this level students need to be able to :

Aural Work

  1. Clap back a rhythm played by the teacher.
  2. Clap in time to the beat of a piece of music accenting the first beat of the bar.
  3. Sing back 5 notes sung or played by the teacher.
  4. Identify a ‘wrong’ note within a phrase.

Sight Reading

Read from low D to high G, and rhythms using quavers and dotted crotchets.

Pieces

The Best Saxophone Duet Book Ever!

Twinkle-twinkle little star duet, Mamma Mia

Sixty For Sax

5. Sax Cafe, 6. Sax Country

Musical Moments Book 1

Gunnerside Ramble, Hot Rods

3 of 3

  • Keep a steady pulse while playing music.
  • Play arpeggios of F, G major and D minor.
  • Recognise the C# fingering and be able to play D major scale.
  • Understand harmonic minor and D minor scale.
  • Play scales using both slurred and tongued articulation.

Stages to Grade 1 – Saxophone

Stage 3: To obtain this level students need to be able to :

Aural Work

  1. Clap back a rhythm played by the teacher.
  2. Clap in time to the beat of a piece of music.
  3. Sing back 5 notes sung or played by the teacher.
  4. Identify the wrong note within a phrase.
  5. Identify a dynamic change in a short piece of music.

Sight Reading

Notes ranging from low C to high C(2 octaves). Play different articulations including normal tonguing, slur and staccato.

Pieces

Sixty for Sax

16. Grooving Sax

Essential Elements Book 1

185. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Saxophone Grade 1 Exam Pieces 2018-2021

A3. Skye Boat Song, C2. Gossip