The Seattle Saxophone Institute is the only saxophone specific summer music camp in the Pacific Northwest.
2024: Celebrating our 10th Anniversary!
There's a place for you here, now let your voice be heard!
““It was a wonderful learning experience. I really enjoyed the camp, and it helped me define my style of playing.” -Liam O. (10th grade)”
Our Mission
Founded in 2015, the Seattle Saxophone Institute provides Pacific NW saxophone students of all levels of ability a saxophone-focused option for summer study. Our goal is to give students the most fun, intensive and focused experience learning about the saxophone possible. The Sax Institute summer music camp is a welcoming environment that emphasizes both instrumental fundamentals and improvisation across classic and modern genres. We work hard to empower students through collaboration and creativity by connecting them with the region’s most inspired saxophone faculty.
Giving back:
We reserve a full 10% of each registration fee for our scholarship fund! Our scholarship program allows us to provide students in financial need the opportunity to attend the Seattle Saxophone Institute summer camp at a reduced rate, upwards of full tuition coverage.
What Sets Us Apart
Low Student-to-Teacher Ratio: We cap our enrollment at 20 students to ensure that each student gets individual attention, can have their questions answered, and is playing with peers of similar experience and interests. With coaches, guest artists, and professional rhythm section, our ratio of students to professional musicians is 3:1
Full-Time Saxophone Expertise: At many other summer jazz camps, saxophone students may be spending the majority of their time with teachers of other instruments. By focusing only on the saxophone, our renowned faculty can continuously provide students feedback about saxophone sound and technique concepts. Students will have the opportunity to immediately apply lessons from faculty and guest clinicians in their ensembles. If desired, our faculty can provide a one-on-one private lesson for any student in need of extra help during our camp.
Well-Rounded Curriculum, Retooled Each Year: In past Sax Institute sessions, students have learned and performed jazz standards in combo settings, swung classic big-band solis with ease, developed their own conducting language, and performed Charles Mingus melodies as a 12-person supergroup! We held lectures and masterclasses on saxophone reed maintenance, electronics, transcription, tone development, and more. Because we focus on saxophone only, our camp provides students with more opportunities for developing a broad range of skills while honing in the all-important playing fundamentals. All playing styles are welcomed and encouraged!
Professional Rhythm Section: Each student gets to rehearse and perform with a trio of some of Seattle's most in-demand professional musicians. This gives our students the opportunity to immediately apply their newfound confidence with skilled artist-teachers who will support and further their performance experience. Students wishing to pursue a jazz curriculum have an opportunity to work with these professionals individually as well.
Real-World Performance Opportunity: We don't hold our last performance in a school in the afternoon, but in a storied public Seattle jazz venue. Past events have taken place at Egan’s Ballard Jam House, the Royal Room, Third Place Commons, Cafe Solstice and the Stone Way Cafe.
DAILY SCHEDULE
The Seattle Sax Institute Summer Music Camp offers two separate sessions - High School and Middle School. Click here for more information about this year’s camp dates and locations. Our camp curriculum is collaboratively designed, and many of the final curriculum decisions are based on enrollment specifics. Here’s a sample of what you might expect from a typical day:
9:00 – Welcome and Warming Up
Breathing exercises: expanding the diaphragm using chorales and overtones
9:30 – Group Repertoire
Rehearsing music by the World Saxophone Quartet and original compositions commissioned for the Sax Institute.
10:00 – 10:25 — Pods A and B
Students break into smaller “Pods,” led by our artist faculty. Students will work on repertoire such as big band solis or Sax Institute-originated arrangements
10:30 - 10:25 — Elective Sessions
Session 1. How to Develop and Maintain Your Reeds. Led by Dr. Evan Smith
Session 2: Using the Saxophone with live electronics. Led by Neil Welch
10:30-10:55 – Private lessons with a Sax Institute artist coach
11:00-11:45 – Small Ensembles (combos, quartets, or duos)
Past works have included Sammy Nestico, Jim Snidero, Don Menza, Duke Ellington, and many more.
11:50-12:00 — Large ensemble chorales: soprano to baritone saxophones
12:00-12:25 – Lunch (outside in the grass, together as a group)
12:30 – 1:25 Guest Artist
Guest artist presentations are participatory sessions with a regional saxophonist, composer, or local creative artist. Past guest artists have included Kate Olson (saxophonist from Sryinx Effect), Christian Pincock (session in Big Band Conduction), Peter Daniel (45th St. Brass Band), James Falzone (Cornish College of the Arts), Wayne Horvitz (Internationally Recognized Composer and Bandleader), and many more.
1:30-1:55 – Artist faculty-led workshop: The Modern Saxophone
Creative improvisation and extended saxophone technique, led by Dr. Evan Smith
2:00-2:25 – Group repertoire Round II
Rehearsing music by the World Saxophone Quartet and original compositions commissioned for the Sax Institute.
2:30–2:50 – Pods A and B Round II
2:50-3:00 — A group conversation about our day at the camp.
3:00 – Home/Pick-up
What People Have Said
"I really enjoyed the camp. It really helped me define my style of playing, and what sound I wanted to get out of the saxophone. It was a wonderful learning experience, and overall greatly improved my playing ability." - Amy, 10th Grade