INTRODUCTION
Progressive Beginner Saxophone assumes you have no prior knowledge of music or playing the saxophone. This book is suitable for anyone who wants to learn to play the saxophone. No previous musical knowledge or experience is necessary, the book will teach you the basics of saxophone playing and reading music. Each new note and technique is introduced separately, and all musical examples sound great and are fun to play. The book also features a chart listing all the note fingerings for the saxophone. All saxophone players should know all of the information contained in this book.
On completion of this book, you will be ready to begin improvising and playing with other musicians and will already be able to play many tunes and be making great sounds. For an introduction to the sounds and techniques of Rock, Blues and Funk playing, see Progressive Rock Saxophone.
The best and fastest way to learn is to use this book in conjunction with:
- Buying sheet music and song books of your favorite recording artists and learning to play their songs. By learning songs, you will begin to build a repertoire and always have something to play in jam sessions.
- Practicing and playing with other musicians. You will be surprised how good a basic drums/bass/guitar/keyboard/saxophone combination can sound even when playing easy music.
- Learning by listening to your favorite recordings. Start building a collection of albums of players you admire or wish to emulate. Try playing along with one of them for a short time each day. Most of the great saxophone players have learned a lot of their music this way.
In the early stages of learning, it is also helpful to have the guidance of an experienced teacher. This will also help you keep to a schedule and achieve weekly goals. To help you develop a good sense of time it is recommended that you always practice with a metronome or drum machine.
