JEFF HARRINGTON

ONLINE Saxophone Lessons & improv for all instruments

STATE-OF-THE-ART instruction in all styles (jazz, funk, fusion, classical, etc.) of improvisation, as well as, all aspects of saxophone technique to all levels (beginner - professional). I am a Berklee Professor, D'Addario Performing Artist, MIT Affiliated Artist and a Harvard University MLSP Instructor. I teach students worldwide as well as locally in Boston, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Belmont, Wellesley, Weston and Watertown, MA.

SAXOPHONE:

For beginners, I emphasize the fundamentals including tone production, technique, reading, playing by ear and just having fun with music and improvisation. For intermediate and advanced players, depending on your style preference, we work on technique, repertoire, and improvisation.

IMPROVISATION:

Beginning improv: I feel it’s important to get a solid foundation of chords and scales and then to build from there. While this is being absorbed, I’ll show you how to improvise over standards, II V I progressions and 12-bar blues.

Intermediate improv: I stress various improv techniques (chord tone soloing, bop scales, approaches notes, 3217/3517 lines, symmetrical diminished, pentatonics, etc.) which enable you to play over chord changes with rhythmic accuracy and without getting lost. These exercises take the mystery out of improvisation by giving you concrete, logical and systematic approaches to improvising. Learning tunes, transcribing, ear training, vocabulary, instrumental technique and theory are also emphasized.

Advanced improv: we work on tonic systems, poly-pentatonics, symmetrical augmented, triad pairs, cycling, motivic improvisation, reharmonization, playing “out”, and applying all of that to more difficult repertoire.

IMPROVISATION FOR ALL INSTRUMENTS: In addition to saxophones, I have had great success teaching all styles of improvisation to a wide array of instruments including: clarinet, flute, piano, guitar, electric and acoustic bass, violin, viola, cello, trumpet, trombone, French horn, oboe, bassoon, voice, and steel pan.

Saxophone Workshop, SU Xianyang Yue Qu School of Music, Xianyang, China

Saxophone Workshop, SU Xianyang Yue Qu School of Music, Xianyang, China

CONSULTATIONS

If you're looking to have your playing evaluated, email me a couple of mp3’s of your playing (with either a live band or a backing track). I’ll go over them with you in a 45-minute online session or if you prefer, email you a written assessment.

ABOUT THE LESSONS

These lessons were originally created in response to requests by students. Now, 25 years later, with students around the world, I have found ONLINE SAXOPHONE LESSONS & IMPROV TO ALL INSTRUMENTS® to be an extremely effective way of teaching saxophone and improvisation. A few of the advantages are: 1) you can work at your own time and pace; 2) you have a permanent record of the lessons; 3) you receive state-of-the-art personalized instruction for less than the cost of a local teacher.

First, I find out as much as I can about your experience, learning style and preferences. Then, I determine the best and most beneficial place to begin. I give you materials, which are not only fun but help you reach your goals quickly and efficiently. All styles (including bop, modal, blues, fusion, smooth jazz, and Latin) are taught – from beginner to advanced levels.

I have carefully developed these proven methods over many years of teaching, performing, research and study.

For rates and further info about ONLINE SAXOPHONE LESSONS & IMPROV TO ALL INSTRUMENTS® contact me at jharrington@jeffharrington.com or 617-332-0176. Teaching students worldwide as well as locally in Boston, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Belmont, Wellesley, Weston and Watertown.

SOME TOPICS OF STUDY

 (click on live links to see or hear examples)

  • Tonic Systems

  • 7th, 9th, 11th, and 13th Chords

  • Approach Notes

  • Cycling

  • Chord Tone Soloing

  • How To Work On Blues

  • Symmetrical Diminished Scales

  • Symmetrical Diminished -7 & -7(b5) Patterns

  • Whole Tone Scales

  • Intervalic Improvisation

  • Harmonic Analysis

  • Theory

  • Ear Training

  • Articulation

  • Pentatonic Patterns

  • Poly-Pentatonics

  • Time Feels

  • Tone Studies

  • Compositional Techniques

  • Bebop Cliches

  • Vocabulary and Language

  • How To Practice and Apply Chord Scales

  • Diatonic Patterns

  • bIII-7 bVI7 Substitutions Over II-7 V7

  • Multiphonics

  • Quoting

  • Practice Routines

  • Mouthpieces

  • Building Technical Facility

  • Performance Techniques

  • Keyboard Skills

  • Voicings

  • Subtone

  • Ghosting

  • Upper and Lower Structure Triads

  • Overtones

  • Applying Bebop Vocabulary, Pentatonics & Playing Outside Over Funk Grooves

  • Number Permutation Systems

  • Repertoire and Learning Tunes

  • How To Work On Tunes

  • 23rd Chords

  • Bop Scales

  • Bop Scale Substitutions

  • 7, -6, -6#5 and -7b5 Pentatonic Scales

  • Voice Leading

  • Inversions

  • Transcribing

  • Rhythmic Displacement

  • Melodic Embellishment

  • All Styles

  • Reharminization

  • Transposing

  • Symmetrical Augmented Scales

  • Modes

  • How To Work On Transcriptions

  • Growling

  • How To Practice Altissimo

  • Repeating & Matching Patterns

  • Scale Tone Soloing

  • Reeds

  • False Fingerings

  • Reading & Sight Reading

  • 3217 & 3517 Systems

  • 5432 & 5732 Systems

  • 3217/3517 & 5432/5732 Combined

  • Embouchure

  • Vibrato

  • Bending

  • Glissandos

  • Warbles

  • Upper and Lower Structure 7th Chords

  • Breathing

  • Tetrachords

  • Blues Licks

  • Thematic Improvisation

  • II-V-I Line Compendiums

  • Triadic Pairs

  • Various Approaches to Playing Outside

  • Harmonic Anticipation and Delay

  • Synthetic Scales

  • Polyrhythms

jharrington@jeffharrington.com

617-332-0176