Northwestern Sax Week 2017

It’s that time of year again! This week, the Bienen School of Music is hosting NU Sax Week 2017. The week will feature events and speakers dealing with genres such as smooth jazz, blues, rock, and even pop. They will also be giving away luxury saxophones valued anywhere from $1,000 - $3,000 at all of their events.

Jun Li, a Bienen Senior and one of NU Sax Week’s organizers, says she’s excited for Northwestern students to have an opportunity to take the taboo away from listening to saxophones.

“To me, the most important part about NU Sax Week is that it sparks frank conversation about saxophones,” Li said in an email to Sherman Ave. “Sax is a funny instrument – it plays an important part in so much of the music we listen to, and yet it’s also taboo and shameful. When sax is shamed upon, there can be unnecessary consequences like synthesized horns and guitar solos which could all be avoided through a sax positive atmosphere.”

Here are all the events on campus you can’t miss this week:

Monday: Free Giveaways and Kenny G
From 11 AM – 4 PM Jazz Studies majors will be giving away free neck straps, reeds, and cork grease at the Rock. At 6:30 PM, Grammy award winning artist and professional saxophone player Kenny G will give a presentation in Harris 107. Kenny G specializes in smooth jazz and has recorded over 40,000 albums since the 1980s.

Tuesday: Pelvic Thrusts and Music Major Awareness
At 4 PM, an expert will teach “Pelvic Thrusts 101” in Wirz Studio, so you can learn the important techniques to take your saxophone performances to the next level.

After you’ve gotten some hands-on experience with the ins and outs of sax, get a bit more personal and hear stories from current NU music majors at 7:30 in Annenberg G29.

Wednesday: Jazzercize and Solo Performance
A funk positive class from 4 - 5 PM in SPAC will train the muscles you’ll use most during your next saxophone encounter. After working on your ~flexibility~, head to Harris L07 at 7 PM to hear some tricks from North Shore Jazz Festival organizer Ben MacArthur on how to maximize listener pleasure and get the most out of your saxophone solo experience.

Thursday: STI Prevention and Nutrition
Head to the Midwest’s largest free jazz concert, the Chicago Jazz Festival, at 1 PM and learn about avoiding sexually transmitted diseases by never getting laid.

Later that night, “PBR” panelists Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and That Guy Who Played The Thing In Thrift Shop will share their struggles and experiences living on a musician’s salary, and answer audience questions starting at 6:30 PM in Annenberg G15.

Friday: Bill Clinton
From 7 - 7:30 PM in Harris 107, former President Bill Clinton will perform a saxophone concert based on his past sexual relations. Bill is the author of the book MY LIFE and is known for his 8 years as President of the United States.

The Bienen School of Music will be updating their Facebook page throughout the week with any changes or updates in the events.

“I hope students learn more about all the different aspects of sax and musicality,” Li said. “There’s funk and R&B and soul and more! These are fascinating genres with their own subgenres. I hope looking at these topics and the communities associated with these topics causes students to examine their own perceptions of sax and saxophone-related subjects.”

(Check out NU Sex Week 2017)