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Woodwinds · 143 verified programs with a saxophone pathway

Saxophone: degrees, diplomas and programs

Saxophone has two broad degree traditions, classical and jazz, along with strong ties to contemporary music, wind bands and education.

Also called: Sax, Saxofon, Saxophon, Saxofón, Sassofono.

What the listings below mean

A program is listed for saxophone only where its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study pathway. These are formal degree, diploma or certificate pathways; the page says which. An instrument taught in private lessons, or a teacher on the faculty, does not create a listing.

84 Bachelor’s · 53 Master’s · 4 Diploma · 2 Practice doctorate · 115 named major, 5 formal principal-study pathway, 23 named in the program title

143 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

Published saxophone audition repertoire

Copied from each program’s own admissions page. Requirements are specific to the program and intake: follow the link and check the current year.

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Master of Music
    • Pre-screening requirement: ALL graduate saxophone applicants are required to submit a pre-screening recording along with their other application materials. Selections should include three contrasting pieces or movements from different major style periods. Prescreening recordings should be uploaded directly to the Graduate College application. | Master of Music and Artist Diploma | Live Audition Requirements: Applicants for the MM degree and AD should prepare a recital program equivalent to a BM performance degree recital. Applicants should also be prepared to perform major and harmonic minor scales (full range) and sight read. Please be sure your repertoire includes: | One work composed for the saxophone before 1970 | One work composed for the saxophone after 1970 | One work of the applicant’s choice | Applicants should prepare a selection of music that demonstrates their familiarity with diverse musical styles, periods, and composers. | Doctor of Musical Arts | NOT accepting DMA applicants for Fall 2027 | Applicants for the DMA degree should prepare a recital program equivalent to a
  • University of Iowa: Bachelor of Music (BM)
    • Audition day information | See the submission deadline for undergraduates to file with the School of Music and learn more about Audition Day . | Learn more about the saxophone studio: https://saxophone.studio.uiowa.edu/ | Prescreening | Submit links (audio or video) of the pre-screening materials on the School of Music form. They are due by December 20, 2026. | Time limit: no less than 10 minutes, no longer than 20 minutes | Choose five scales, quarter-note = 88 x 4 sixteenths, articulation of your choice | Repertoire: two contrasting movements from the same or two different pieces. Unaccompanied works are allowed. | Accompanied works must be performed with piano accompaniment (or a pre-recorded track).
  • Lawrence University: Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
    • Three works that highlight your musicianship, technical skill, and artistic interests (about 15 minutes of repertoire total): | a piece that demonstrates lyricism, phrasing, and beauty of sound | a piece that demonstrates technical skill | a piece of music that you love to play | Types of works may include: | A movement from a standard work for saxophone (Suggested Glazounov, Maurice, Milhaud, Creston, Still, Bozza, Ibert, Muczynski, Debussy, etc.) | Etudes by Ferling, Berbiguier/Mule, Voxman, Small, or similar | Improvisations with play along | Transcriptions | All major scales, full range and slurred | Full range chromatic scale, slurred | Sight-reading may be requested during live auditions | An introductory video is required for recorded auditions | Please contact Joseph Connor for questions regarding audition repertoire.
  • DePaul University: Bachelor of Music
    • We encourage all applicants to audition in person if possible. Register for a live audition by January 15. | Audition Repertoire | ​ Prepare two contrasting movements from the standard solo repertoire.​
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Bachelor of Music
    • NOT accepting transfer applicants for Spring 2027 term. | Prospective students will be evaluated on their skills of tone production, intonation, musicality, lyrical phrasing, rhythmic accuracy, technical proficiency, and overall musical experience. The student will be asked to perform: | Two or more contrasting movements from the standard solo repertoire (an etude is acceptable for one of these) that demonstrate lyrical phrasing and technical proficiency. | All major scales and chromatic scale (at least two octaves, preferably full range). | On-campus audition dates can be found here . It is highly recommended that all undergraduate candidates attend an on-campus audition. If you are unable to audition on-campus, please select the “recorded” audition format preference on your supplemental music form. Undergraduate applicants who would like to submit a recorded audition should follow the steps outlined here .
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Master of Music
    • Saxophone: Audition Requirements Memorization is not required but strongly encouraged. A full concerto A full solo work suitable for a recital One orchestral excerpt Applicants should also prepare a written artist statement and bring to the audition
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Graduate Diploma
    • Saxophone: Audition Requirements Memorization is not required but strongly encouraged. A full concerto A full solo work suitable for a recital One orchestral excerpt Applicants should also prepare a written artist statement and bring to the audition
  • DePaul University: Master of Music
    • We encourage all applicants to audition in person if possible. Register for a live audition by January 15. | Audition Repertoire | Two complete works from the standard solo repertoire. | Four orchestral excerpts of your choice.
  • Northwestern University: Bachelor of Music
    • Audition dates: | Early Decision: November 20 | Regular Decision: February 5-6 & 12 | For Prescreening: | Spoken introduction which includes your name, hometown, school, teachers, brief information about your background on the saxophone, and which degree(s) you are interested in pursuing at Northwestern. | Two full-range major scales of the applicant's choice; one should be presented slurred and the second should be performed in a slur two/tongue six pattern. | Two full-range minor arpeggios of the applicant's choice; one slurred, one tongued. | Two contrasting études by Ferling, Berbiguier/Mule, J.L. Small, Labanchi, Voxman Selected Studies, or similar. | One complete, multi-movement classical work or two to three contrasting movements from different works. Suggested repertoire includes works by Creston, Glazunov, Ibert, Tomasi, Bach, Fasch, Debussy, Heiden, Muczynski, Rueff, Boutry, Bozza, and Milhaud. | Optional: If you have a background in jazz that you would like to demonstrate, you may present jazz selections such as a transcription, jazz étude, and/or improvisation (with play-along). | For Final Audition: | All major and harmonic minor scales (full range), and chromatic scale (low Bb to high F#). | Two contrasting études (one lyrical, one technical). These should NOT be the same étude
  • Northwestern University: Master of Music
    • Audition dates: | February 5-6 & 12 | For Prescreening: | Spoken introduction which includes your name, current institution, teachers, and brief information about your background on the saxophone. | Two contrasting études by Bozza, Lacour, Koechlin, Karg-Elert, Ferling, or other études of similar difficulty | Two complete solo works of contrasting styles, including at least one work from the standard repertoire. | For Final Audition: | All major and harmonic minor scales, full range; major scales in 3rds; chromatic scale. | Approximately 30 minutes of music that represents both a diversity of musical styles and your interests as an artist. At least one selection should be from the standard repertoire. Selections should represent both musical and technical accomplishment. | Optional: If you have a background in jazz that you would like to demonstrate, you may present jazz selections such as a transcription, jazz étude, and/or improvisation.
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities: Bachelor of Music (BMus)
    • Two contrasting etudes (one slow, one fast); one complete solo work from the standard repertoire.

About saxophone study

The saxophone is a single-reed instrument made of metal, with a conical bore, and it comes in several sizes, most commonly soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. Degree-level students learn control of tone, intonation and articulation, and decisions about mouthpieces, reeds and equipment are often tied to the musical tradition they follow. The instrument is younger than most conservatory instruments, which shapes both its repertoire and how programs organise study.

Two traditions dominate. Classical saxophone programs emphasise concertos, sonatas, chamber music for saxophone quartet and contemporary works, with a repertoire that grew substantially in the twentieth century. Jazz saxophone programs focus on improvisation, harmony, transcription of recorded solos, big band section playing and small-group performance. Some schools offer both, and some offer only one, so the framing of a program matters.

Typical degrees include the Bachelor of Music in saxophone performance, the Master of Music, and practice doctorates such as the Doctor of Musical Arts, with jazz studies degrees often listing saxophone as a principal instrument. Saxophone is also important in wind bands and music education. Applicants should confirm that their preferred tradition is supported by the faculty and ensembles at each school.

What study typically involves

  • Saxophone tone, articulation and altissimo or extended registers
  • Classical solo repertoire and saxophone quartet playing
  • Jazz improvisation, harmony and transcription
  • Big band and small-group ensemble playing
  • Contemporary and extended techniques
  • Doubling on other saxophones or woodwinds in some programs
  • Sight-reading, ear training and theory
  • Pedagogy and wind band participation

Award titles. Saxophone may be studied for a Bachelor of Music or BMus and a Master of Music or MMus, with jazz-oriented routes sometimes carrying a jazz-specific degree title. Some institutions offer an Artist Diploma or a graduate or postgraduate diploma, which are diploma-level awards and not master's degrees. The Doctor of Musical Arts is a practice doctorate. Names differ by country and no equivalence claims are made here.

A program is listed under saxophone in this directory only when its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study option. A private teacher or a faculty saxophonist does not count. Not every school offers saxophone as a degree specialization, and classical and jazz routes may be offered separately.

Auditions and admissions guidance

General orientation only. Each program publishes its own repertoire, format and deadlines; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Saxophone auditions depend on the tradition. Classical applicants typically perform contrasting works, scales and etudes, with an accompanist for sonata or concerto movements. Jazz applicants usually play prepared tunes or a blues, improvise over changes and may be asked to demonstrate swing, ballad and Latin styles.

Sight-reading, ear tests and theory examinations are common, and some programs ask jazz applicants to take part in a play-along or rhythm-section audition. Doubling on other instruments is sometimes welcomed but not required.

Each program publishes its own repertoire categories and format, and these change annually, so consult the current-year audition page for every school. Nothing here guarantees admission.

See also preparing for auditions and prescreening vs final auditions.

Costs and funding

Saxophonists are central to wind bands, jazz ensembles and saxophone quartets, and programs may offer scholarships connected to ensemble needs. Graduate students might be considered for assistantships such as leading sectionals, coaching ensembles or teaching non-majors.

Terms vary by school, country and year, and many students receive partial support or none. Check each program's funding information.

Costs beyond tuition. Saxophonists may pay for one or more instruments, since doubling across alto, tenor, soprano and baritone adds cost, plus mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures, straps and maintenance. Jazz students often buy transcriptions, backing tracks and recording equipment. Accompanist fees and audition travel are other possibilities.