[Cdmeister]

I auditioned for several schools my senior year (2011) that offer music and engineering. My top choice was to go to University of Michigan. I played the Creston Sonata and I did not make it. Right now I am attending a public university and I am not very fond of it. I would like to try auditioning again at UM. I have been practicing the concertino da camera since September. I was wondering what kinds of things Mr. Sinta looks for in a student and How should I tackle the Concertino da camera. I use a metronome and it helps me out a lot but gets frustrating. I cant play altissimo notes except for G. and I stink at overtones. any help? And also has anybody tried audition again for the same person or transferred to a different school?

 

[doublereeds]

I'm not a sax teacher, but my daughter plans on auditioning for schools and conservatories in two years on sax. Do you have a teacher working with you on altissimo? Sax as I understand is very competitive. At the top schools (and I'd consider UM one of them) I would imagine that auditioning sax students are well versed on pieces such as the Creston concerto, Ibert, Glazunov, villa Lobos, Tableaux de Provence, and that the successful students can also play something like the Dahl concerto--which requires a lot of altissimo.

College students transfer to other colleges all the time. Would you consider auditioning at multiple colleges to broaden your base and increase your chances?

 

[Cdmeister]

I would like to go to a good school that has a good engineering program and a saxophone teacher (hence UM). I would consider broadening my range of schools but I don't know which schools. I currently have a teacher working on my altissimo. But not directly. right now I am working on a page from the Rascher top tones book. We are working on the overtones right now. I have been working on my overtones for almost 6 months and I am at about the same level when I started. I cant get the High B-flat to come out!!

 

[doublereeds]

If you are smart enough to get admitted to UM for engineering, perhaps you should transfer there and take private sax lessons. A friend of my daughter's (a great sax player) didn't get in to places such as Northwestern University on sax, so she went to Yale where they don't even have an undergraduate program in music. She got admitted to conservatories on BASSOON, and she doesn't even play the bassoon that much. She's taking private sax lessons from one of the teachers in Boston. She's planning on attending one of the summer music institutes with my daughter, since they've formed a sax quartet, and performing/studying all summer.

As far as which schools, you really need to determine for yourself which sax players and what style you like. Do you want to study jazz or classical? It's hard to recommend universities without more information. Which sax performers have you listened to that you like?

 

[Cdmeister]

I prefer classical style of music and I mainly prefer people like Vincent Abato, Paul Desmond ( I like his sound), Cannonball. Little bit of Londeix, Don Sinta. Old school stuff.

 

[bandmommy]

If you're REALLY interested in an excellent engineering program you can't beat Michigan Tech when it comes to schools in Michigan.
Unfortunately they don't have a music program. Only 'Pep' band for hockey games and such..
Try not to get too discouraged. You'll make it in.

 

[saxmusicguy]

I was wondering what kinds of things Mr. Sinta looks for in a student and How should I tackle the Concertino da camera.

I think the Sinta studio is limited to graduate students and the "cream of the crop" undergraduates.