Years 3-6 on the Saxophone

I strongly suggest joining a school concert band and working through the AMEB, Trinity or ABRSM exam system aiming for completing the Technical Work and repertoire for one level per year. It is not necessary to sit each exam as the exam environment is not for everyone.

Grades 1-4 can sometimes be covered between years 3-6. Students wishing to sit for music scholarships at Private Schools should complete Grade 4 in Year 6 and be working on Grade 5 Repertoire towards the end of Year 6. This is definitely not for everyone and is a big goal to achieve and work daily towards.

I strongly recommend also performing in a community band outside of school such as can be found on this page

Years 7-12 on the Saxophone

Approach: Music is a trade and the role of a Tenor Saxophonist is that of a soloist who can also read music and play in a Horn Section or Band.

Resources: Therefore the number 1 book to have and know well is 'The Real Book' volumes 1-3. These are available from all good book stores and contain 300 Jazz standards in each. They retail at $100 each.  The goal is to know the most popular of these as quickly as possible and be able to improvise over these using backing tracks which can either be bought in the 'Jamey Aebersold' books RRP $40 each or via the 'i real Book' app $10
'How to Blitz music theory Grades 1-4' by Samantha Coates
HSC repertoire usually includes tailored pieces to suit the student.

High School Years and Benchmarks

Yr 7 Learn to play scales and repertoire up to a Grade 4 level in either ABRSM, AMEB or Trinity. Not necessarily sit the exams if this will slow down progress. Repertoire can be selected from any books to suit the student but will become progressively harder and involve a variety of key signatures

Yr 8 Be able to play all major scales via the circle of 4ths and 5ths - equivalent to Grade 8 AMEB Technical work. Be able to play and improvise over 8 Jazz standards from the Real Books using a Blues or Pentatonic Scale

Yr 9 Be able to play all the relative Major and Minor Scales - equivalent to Grade 8 AMEB Technical work. Be able to play and improvise over 20 Jazz standards playing and reading the chord changes.
Elective Music - Improvise and perform in Rock and Pop Band in the classroom, develop ensemble skills for 4 piece pop bands and be able to read and play over chord charts. Be able to write chord charts using music notation software - prefer Sibelius.

Yr 10 Be able to play all the relative Major and Minor Scales - equivalent to Grade 8 AMEB Technical work. Be able to play and improvise over a minimum of 20 Jazz standards playing and reading the chord changes.
Elective Music - Improvise and perform in Rock and Pop Band in the classroom, develop ensemble skills for 4 piece pop bands and be able to read and play over chord charts. Be able to write chord charts using music notation software - prefer Sibelius.

Yr 11 Focus on Musicianship/Musiccraft/Theory and sit exams if needed. Select HSC repertoire, coach on Year 11 compositions, viva voce, musicology and listening skills.

Yr 12 Play at a Grade 6 AMEB, Trinity or ABRSM or higher level on 3-4 pieces for the HSC in 2 Unit music. The pieces should cover a range of Ensembles and include 1 solo performance in a 20th Century Style, and 1 Australian composer, my preferred Australia composer is currently Khris Spike  who is also used in accompaniment for the HSC performance. The accompaniment band can be booked and arranged through Jaime Gibson and his Music Director Wendy Angerrani from the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) (rehearsals for this are held at the AIM) if needed.

If a career in music is desired

It is strongly recommended that the student completes business studies in the HSC as they will be a sole trader or contractor when performing. Being familiar with marketing, business plans, ABNs and invoicing is a must.

Many of my students have students music at many of Australia's fine Universities. However I have noticed that my two main goals for them 1. to complete their degrees 2. to continue to work in the music industry for many years, are consistently met when they complete their studies at the institutions below.

University - Bachelor of Music completed in Trimesters at Australian Institute of Music (AIM)  in 2 years
Graduate Diploma in Education - completed in 1 year through the Wesley Institute or the Australian Catholic University

This is currently the quickest approach to covering the required degrees to be a qualified professional performing musician and classroom music teacher in Australia (if that is desired). Of course music is about lifelong learning and as my students are graduating at the ages of 20 and 21 I strongly encourage them to continually receive lessons from a variety of tutors and to attend every workshop/course they can and to consider further study abroad.