The Cailliet Method is a method of learning the
saxophone
The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of Single-reed instrument, single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed (mouthpi ...
originally devised by French-born American composer
Lucien Cailliet, which he described in the two published volumes named "Cailliet Method for Saxophone". The method itself focuses on the inclusion of
Music Theory in order to accentuate the role of
harmonies
In music, harmony is the process by which individual sounds are joined together or composed into whole units or compositions. Often, the term harmony refers to simultaneously occurring frequencies, pitches ( tones, notes), or chords. However ...
,
counterpoints and
orchestration, to evoke appreciation from the musician on their importance within music, without departing too much from the sake of instrumental training.
The emphasis within the Cailliet method is based upon the belief that "one should know a subject completely before specializing in any part of it". The method itself encompasses traditional methods such as
scales
Scale or scales may refer to:
Mathematics
* Scale (descriptive set theory), an object defined on a set of points
* Scale (ratio), the ratio of a linear dimension of a model to the corresponding dimension of the original
* Scale factor, a number w ...
and
arpeggios with various additional articulations for the purpose of increasing proficiency, but also involves the study of various other forms of musical notation and concept. Amongst these additional studies is the
diminished seventh
In classical music from Western culture, a diminished seventh () is an interval produced by narrowing a minor seventh by a chromatic semitone.Benward & Saker (2003). ''Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I'', p.54. . Specific example of an d7 ...
, which Cailliet described as vague, unexplained and even mysterious to trained musicians.
[Cailliet, Lucien (Date Not Known). Cailliet Method for saxophone (Book Two) p1 - "''For example, the mention of "dominant seventh", "diminished seventh", "augmented fifth chords", "whole-tone scale" or artifices of composition ... is sometimes, even to well rained players, something vague, mysterious, unexplained or taken for granted.''"]
The other focuses, as described by the second volume of the method are:
* Scales and arpeggios (with several alternate articulations)
[Cailliet, Lucien (Date Not Known). Cailliet Method for saxophone (Book Two) p2 - 14]
** Major and minor scales, proceeding in thirds
** Arpeggios on dominant 7th chords
** Arpeggios on diminished sevenths
* Intervals
[Cailliet, Lucien (Date Not Known). Cailliet Method for saxophone (Book Two) p20 - 30]
** Chromatic intervals
** Articulation and intervals
* Expression
** Melodic expression
** Rhythmic expression
** Harmonic expression
* "Artifices of composition"
[Cailliet, Lucien (Date Not Known). Cailliet Method for saxophone (Book Two) p30 - 35]
** Canonic imitation
** Fugue and Canon
Notes
References
# Cailliet, Lucien (Date Not Known). Cailliet Method for saxophone (Book One) Rockville Centre, L.I., New York: Belwin Publications
# Cailliet, Lucien (Date Not Known). Cailliet Method for saxophone (Book Two) Rockville Centre, L.I., New York: Belwin Publications
{{Music methods
Saxophones