Alicia Kalb
Major: Music Education
The Project:
"Fantaisie for Soprano Saxophone and Piano, op. 89"
Jean-Baptiste Singelée's "Fantaisie for Soprano Saxophone and Piano, op. 89" was one of the first pieces written specifically for saxophone. Singelée worked with Adolphe Sax at the Paris Conservatoire and was a significant composer and advocate for the saxophone during its beginning stages.
The Mentors:
Gail Levinsky, associate professor of music and Deborah Andrus, adjunct music faculty
I loved working with both Dr. Levinsky and Dr. Andrus. I think the combination of their two teaching styles really helped make this piece come alive.
Dr. Andrus really helped develop my musicality with the piece. She has a way of explaining the mood and essence of a piece in a way that makes complete sense. She really helped my accompanist and I figure out the dramatic story that we were telling through the music.
Dr. Levinsky is a phenomenal saxophone player. She really helped me improve my playing, especially the technical aspects. Over the last four years she has taken me so far. I know I am the player that I am because of her.
The Experience:
I really wanted to play a soprano saxophone piece. I did some research on some of the standard repertoire, and Singelée's Fantaisie really appealed to me when I heard it. I'd been working on the piece since the end of last semester. I started on it with Dr. Levinsky, and I continued working throughout the semester in lessons with Dr. Andrus.
The Reward:
It is not every day that one hears solo soprano saxophone. Except for saxophone quartet and occasionally in band, saxophonists don't often get the opportunity to play soprano saxophone. I really enjoy playing soprano - it's my favorite instrument - and through learning this piece my playing has improved immensely. This piece really allowed me to work on both my musicality and my technique, and both have grown. The Senior Scholar's performance really was the culmination of everything that I have learned here at Susquehanna.
What's Next:
I will be teaching music at Radnor Middle School in Wayne, Pa. I teach seventh-grade band, jazz band, instrumental lessons and eighth-grade music technology classes.
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