Makam on Saxophone

This course will focus on implementing the Turkish makam system on saxophone. We will go over the color and meaning of specific modes (makamlar), and learn their structures and pathways (seyir) in order to improvise within this musical language. We will listen to singers and zurna, violin, and clarinet players, aiming to emulate their sounds on the saxophone. We will also look at instrumental techniques necessary for overcoming the challenges of playing microtones on the saxophone.   This course is for saxophonists who are comfortable on their instruments, though no previous experience in modal music or makam is required. We will learn and analyze pieces from both court and folk repertoires of Turkey and Greece. We’ll listen to and study composers and interpreters including Salih Dede, Haydar Tatlıyay, Küçük Hasan and Vasilis Soukas. The makamlar we will study include Rast, Ussak, Huzzam and Saba.

Student requirements:
Instrumental technique: basic
Western theory: basic
Modal music theory: basic
Sight reading: basic
Transposition: basic
Learning by ear: basic
Composition: any level
Improvisation: basic