UD Summer Music Programs - Saxophone Performance Institute

Saxophone Performance Institute

The Saxophone Performance Institute (SPI) is a five-day program presented each summer for saxophonists. The SPI is Intergenerational. Saxophonist from 8th grade through 75+ years of age can attend. All activities are held on the historic UD main campus, and instruction is provided by Department of Music faculty member Dr. Willie Morris III, Director of Bands and UD alumni Mr. Adam Uhlenhake, and Bill Burns. The institute is an intensive study of the saxophone in both concert and jazz styles.  At the end of the institute the students will perform, solo and ensemble literature they learned during the week.

The camp will include performance studies and instructions in:

  • Tone Production
  • Choosing the right mouthpiece and Reed
  • Proper Mechanics
  • Building Technique
  • Improving your articulation
  • History of the Saxophone
  • Saxophone pitch tendencies
  • Concert and Jazz styling
  • Understanding jazz and concert performance styles
  • Your role in big band saxophone section playing
  • Your role in concert band playing
  • Listening
  • Playing the “other” saxophones

Performance opportunities:

  • Sax quartet/quintet
  • Big band section playing
  • Solos, duets and trios
  • Concert literature solos
  • Solos with a rhythm section

The Saxophone Performance Institute WILL make your students a better and more knowledgeable saxophonist. My intent is to have the students that attend the Saxophone Performance Institute return to their schools and use what they learned at SPI to make their sections and bands better.

Faculty:

Dr. Willie Morris
Willie Morris

Mr. Adam Uhlenhake


Mr. Bill Burns

Date and Location:

June 15 – 20, 2025
University of Dayton
Department of Music
1529 Brown Street. Dayton, Ohio, 45469

Registration information

Deadline for SPI registration is June 3, 2025.

Plan options

  • $475 Commuter (with lunch)
  • $800 Resident Double (includes breakfast, lunch, housing)
  • $975 Resident Single (includes breakfast, lunch, housing)
  • $275 Morning Clinics Only (lunch is not included)