Miles Osland has distinguished himself as an educator, recording and performing artist, author, arranger and composer.

Currently the Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone at the University of Kentucky, he has appeared throughout North & South America, Europe and Asia as a guest conductor, performer and clinician for Selmer (France) Saxophones, D’Addario Woodwinds and Jody Jazz mouthpieces. His compositions and arrangements, available through ejazzlines, have been recognized and supported by fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kentucky Arts Council, and by numerous other arts foundations.  He is also a recipient of the Kentucky Governor’s Award In The Arts for excellence in education.

Professor Osland has over 30 CD’s released on Sea Breeze Jazz, Open Loop and Mark Custom records.  Ten of his recordings have been submitted for Grammy nominations.

Three books authored by Mr. Osland are available through Dorn Publications and his scholarly work (which includes over 75 articles and reviews on saxophone technique and jazz improvisation) have been published in a variety of publications including Downbeat, Jazz Educators Journal, Jazz Player Magazine, Saxophone Journal, Selmer Woodwind Notes and Windplayer Magazine.  He has three books/CD’s published by Alfred titled: Solo Transcriptions and Performing Artist Master Class CD: The Music of Bob Mintzer, The Music of Nestor Torres and The Music of Eddie Daniels.

His 2-volume Scale Anthology Series; Linear & Vertical Exercises for the Contemporary Saxophonist is a resource for teachers and students to explore and get comfortable with many of the different scales and arpeggios.

In this episode, we talked about:

* Miles’ most influential teachers

* The method book he has all his students work on

* His connection with Vince DiMartino, and how he started working as the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Kentucky

* Tips for approaching performing sax/drums duets

* The Eastman 13 exercises

* How Miles tests new horns, and his thoughts on the differences between black lacquer and regular lacquered horns

* the upcoming 30/50 Project

* the ONE item Miles absolutely recommends for every saxophone player!

If you want to contact Miles, click here for his email.

 

Check out the video interview below (and please share 😊)