Music Composition
Music Composition offers degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as a minor. The program provides students the guidance they need to express their individuality through their music.
Overview
The study of saxophone at The Hartt School offers a competitive, collegial environment for students to challenge one another, fosters artistic growth, and instill the necessary skills to achieve success in the musical world.
About the Major
The overall size of the woodwind department and instrumental studios provides each student significant individual attention and performance opportunities. Whether you aspire to work as a professional performer, music educator, producer, manager, acoustic engineer, or other, we have a place for you in Hartt's woodwind department.
Admission and Audition Requirements
Please see specific instrument audition requirements by degree below. Learn more about the undergraduate or graduate application process, in-person audition dates, and deadlines.
Bachelor of Music
- Two contrasting movements from a standard sonata or concerto (e.g., Creston, Glazunov, Heiden, Ibert, Maurice, Milhaud, etc.)
- Two Ferling études (one slow, one fast) or comparable works
Please note: We have students who come to Hartt from across the United States and around the world. That is one of the things that makes a Hartt education so special. Some students are accepted and arrive having had extensive private study on their instruments. Others have had less experience (and perhaps less conventional training), but their natural abilities and great love of music allow them to make remarkable strides in a short period of time because of the expertise of our faculty.
Our requirements are sometimes quite specific to give applicants a sense of where they should be to enter a high-level conservatory environment. However, we encourage applicants to reach out to our faculty members to discuss audition repertoire. It may be that what you have prepared will suffice. Our primary goal is to identify potential, and if we feel that the potential is there, it is then our responsibility to provide each and every student with the tools to be successful.
If you would like to be in touch with a member of the faculty to discuss your audition repertoire, please write to harttadm@hartford.edu.
Master of Music & Graduate Professional Diploma
MM and GPD saxophone applicants should prepare a program of a minimum of two major works. These should demonstrate musical and stylistic variety and should represent your highest level of musical and technical development.
Doctor of Musical Arts & Artist Diploma
DMA and AD saxophone applicants should prepare a program of a minimum of three major works. These should demonstrate musical and stylistic variety and should represent your highest level of musical and technical development.
Note: All DMA and AD candidates must audition with piano accompaniment where appropriate. If you require an accompanist for your audition, you may bring your own or request a Hartt accompanist. There is a $50 fee for a Hartt accompanist, which includes the audition and one 30-minute rehearsal (on the day of the audition). If you require an accompanist, you must notify Hartt Admissions at harttadm@hartford.edu at least three (3) weeks prior to your audition. Be sure to include your name, contact information, degree program, instrument, warm-up and audition times, and repertoire that requires accompaniment.
Our Faculty
Professor of Saxophone
Carrie Koffman is Professor of Saxophone at The Hartt School at the University of Hartford and Lecturer of Saxophone at the Yale School of Music.
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