2SAXY Workshop Day: Improv, Techniques, Tricks
2SAXY Workshop Day (August 22, 2020 | 10am - 6pm ET)
We are so excited to be back with a new workshop format this Saturday August 22! We’ve been thinking about how to integrate the feedback you’ve given us from our past workshops and this time we are back with 3 workshops throughout the day spanning beginner, intermediate and advanced levels! We feel this day long curriculum will help us focus in on each level and dig deeper with you in each class. We’ve designed this curriculum based on the most popular topics you’ve suggested and based on the conversations we’ve had with you. We feel it will help you grow in the areas you’re struggling with and would like to improve on.
We will include replay videos, PDF Workbook, and private playlists for each of the workshops. Additionally, all attendees will be invited to an end of the day Q&A and virtual jam session as well!
<3 Grace + Leo
10:00 am-11:30am ET - Improv 1: Pentatonic, Blues Scales, Major & Minor Scales (for Beginners)
In this workshop you’ll learn about our philosophy about how to approach improv and scales you can start learning and using right away as you dive into improv! The scales we are going to teach you are some of our absolute favorites and ones we use all the time when we improvise. These scales are the stepping stones to learning music theory and language. You’ll leave understanding the composition of these scales, where you can place them in while soloing and how to continue practicing them.
We’ll go through each of our techniques and exercises with you step by step and will show you some other fun rhythm exercises that you can use right away alongside these chords. This is going to be a really fun workshop and is perfect for anybody who is brand new to improv or is in their beginning stages.
What is Improv? Our Improv Philosophies + Q&A (15 min)
What are the right notes? Wrong notes? How do I make my improvised solos more interesting? How do I get better at improv? The questions are endless! We’ll share our stories and philosophies of improvisation and how you can get into the right headspace.
The Blues & Pentatonic Scales + Q&A (45 min)
The blues and pentatonic scales are two scales you can learn and start using in your improv immediately! Leo P is a huge fan of both of these scales and loves to use them in his improv. You’ll learn how to play these scales and some fun rhythm exercises you can pair with the scales that will make your improv sound even hipper!
Major & Minor Scales + Q&A (20 min)
Learning your major & minor scales is essential for developing your language if you want to improvise! We’ll go through best practices for learning your scales, adding them into your improv and exercises that will spice up your scale practice routine and will allow you to practice both your scales along with having fun jamming out!
Q&A (10 min)
Ask us anything! We’ll go over your questions throughout the workshop but will leave a little time at the end to go over any additional questions you may have!
1:00 -2:30pm ET - Saxophone Techniques: Growling, Bends, Gliss & Falls and Power Chords (Intermediate & Advanced)
We know how much you love sax techniques so we’re back with more! Adding any of these techniques into your playing will spice up your improv and add more personality and expression while you play! These techniques are some of our absolute favorites and techniques you hear us dig into quite often when we play!
Bending & Growling (45 min)
You will learn to create a bend and how to create a growl on the sax as well as thoughts on where you can integrate it into your lines to add more dynamics to your playing! We'll demonstrate the different ways we add both of these techniques into our playing and show you where you can take it along with exercises you can use in your daily practice routines.
Gliss & Falls (20 min)
This is a powerful effect and one that is really fun to do going up and down the horn. We’ll show you how to create these sounds and where you can add them in to add more punctuation and drama to your lines!
Additional FX: Power Chords + Q&A (25 min)
We’ll show you some additional sax techniques including Power chords and how you can use this unusual techniques to create some serious drama when you play. We’ll end by answering any additional questions you have!
3:00- 4:30pm ET - Tricks for Advanced Players: False Fingers, Chromatic Tremolo, Toggling
We’re going to show you some cool tricks you can integrate into your sax playing that we’ll take your playing to that pro level. These tricks are quite simple to learn but will have everyone in awe. Join this class and get these new techniques under your belt!
False Fingering (20 min)
We’ll show you a couple different techniques for adding false fingering into your phrases. This is a really cool technique that sounds way more complicated than it actually is! It will make you sound more rhythmic and technical as you go about playing your lines.
Chromatic Tremolo (20 min)
This technique mirrors the sound of an electric guitar building up chromatically in its high register. You may have also heard it from bebop masters such as Cannonball Adderly and Phil Woods. This is a great one to throw in at the height of your solo to escalate your dynamics even more!
Trills & Toggling (20 min)
We’ll show you some cool techniques for adding unusual rhythmic sounds using trills and toggling. These are ones you can throw in at any given moment and it will add an impressive jab into your lines.
Live feedback + Q&A (30 min)
In this last segment we’ll put it all together and show you how any of these given tricks put together can sound super impressive when used with taste and fluidity. We’ll bring some of you on to the screen to try it out and get our feedback and we will answer any additional questions you may have!
5:00-6:00pm ET - Q&A and Virtual Jam Session!
We will use this time to answer any remaining questions and hold a guided jam session where we will lead you through some tracks and grooves.
Don't take our word for how awesome this will be, here is what past students are saying:
“The biggest take-away from your workshop is this - access to your enthusiasm and encouragement. It has provided me with extra air under my wings in approaching my practice at the craft of playing the saxophone. You guys are the new generation, the mantle has been passed on and it couldn't be in better hands. God Bless you both!” - Jay 🎷
"You guys! I am so proud of my kid, thank you so much for encouraging her! She felt like the online workshops weren't for her because she is a student, but went for it and really gained a lot from them... both skills and confidence! Thank you for including all skill levels!" - Stacey ❤️
"Thanks again for the awesome workshop last weekend. My son thinks the world of you both. And I know Leo has been so instrumental in shaping his confidence - not just in music but in life. Just thank you. So much. These workshops are fantastic." - Jessica 🎉
The workshop sessions are scheduled to take place between 10am-6pm EST (with breaks). See table below for your timezone.
| Hawaii Standard Time (HST) | 4am |
| Pacific Time (PST) | 7am |
| Central Time (CT) | 9am |
| Eastern Time (EST) | 10am |
| British Summer Time (BST) | 3pm |
| Central European Summer Time (CEST) | 4pm |
| Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) | 5pm |
What are you waiting for?! We are currently limiting access to 500 seats (limit of the software we are using), so claim yours now. A 2 hour private lesson with Grace and Leo is typically $500 but we wanted to make this accessible to as many of you as we can, so are making the individual workshops (with jam session included) $40 each, and the full day pass $75!
All-Access Day Pass
$75 / $120
Single Workshop Passes
If you’d like to use Venmo to sign up – DM us on Instagram.
100% Saxyfaction Guaranteed
or your $$$ back.
FAQ
I Play a Different Instrument Can I Take This Course?
This particular class is geared towards saxophonist but the techniques are also friendly to other woodwind and brass instruments!
Can I view the lesson content on my mobile or tablet device?
Yes! The videos can be viewed on any device as long as you are connected to the internet.
How Long Will it Take to Get Access?
We will send you a confirmation email after your purchase is complete and provide additional instructions for attending the workshop. Please check junk and spam folders for this if you don’t see it right away. Add workshop@weare2saxy.com to your contact list, to ensure delivery of all important emails.
Does it matter which saxophone I play?
All saxes (and any other instruments/vocalists) are welcome 🙂 We are ASBT+ friendly.
I just started playing saxophone, can I sign up for this online workshop?
Absolutely! The techniques 2Saxy are teaching are applicable for beginners through advanced players and performers.
What if I miss the live workshop? Can I still watch it after the scheduled time?
We will provide everyone who purchases a virtual seat with a download of the video of the workshop, so you can watch it anytime after the end of the class in case you miss it, or want to re-watch it!
I’d like to submit my video for 2SAXY to review! Where should I send my video?
You can submit DM your videos to our Instagram (@weare2saxy) or email workshop@weare2saxy.com. We will pick a minimum of 4 videos to review. We will watch up to 1 min of whatever video you send in. If you’d like 2Saxy to see a particular section please edit your video so it starts at that time code!
Where will the online workshop be held?
Please check your email for all confirmation details and look for an email sent to you wed morning with the workshop URL link. Please check junk and spam folders for it if you don’t see it right away. Add workshop@weare2saxy.com to your contact list, to ensure delivery of all important emails. If the above is still not working for you, please send an email to workshop@weare2saxy.com
Is There a Guarantee?
If you are not happy with the workshop for any reason, please let us know your feedback and we’ll be happy to either give you a refund or a waiver to a future session.