The Music Summer School and Festival at Gresham’s School in Norfolk

Coaching, teaching and performing in Norfolk at the annual MMSF Festival

The Complete Saxophone Course

Huw Wiggin – director

Learn to master the art of saxophone playing through comprehensive lessons on tone, phrasing, articulation, and musical interpretation. This course combines solo performance and guided masterclass sessions with piano accompaniment to refine ensemble awareness, expressive depth, and professional performance skills.

Course Outcomes

The Saxophone Course provides an immersive environment for developing advanced musical and interpretive skills. Each session focuses on techniques such as tone shaping, breath control, phrasing, and articulation, with direct application to core repertoire. Students perform individually and in collaborative settings with a pianist, exploring ensemble balance, dynamic contrast, and interpretation. Activities include guided tone development exercises, phrasing analysis of slow movements, and interactive feedback on stylistic precision within fast technical passages. Participants also study score reading and historical performance context to strengthen musical insight. Through peer observation and professional critique participants will gain confidence, stage presence, and a deeper understanding of the saxophone’s expressive range in performance.

Is this course for you?

This course is designed for intermediate to advanced saxophonists — typically those at Grade 5 level or higher — who have a solid grasp of music reading and basic theory. Participants should be comfortable performing short solo pieces and open to developing their ensemble and interpretive skills in a supportive masterclass setting.