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Absolute Beginners
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Product Description
Synopsis
Step by step pictures take you from first day exercises to playing along with a backing track.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
207 of 209 people found the following review helpful
Format:Sheet music
I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent guide. I've learned how to sight read, and to play simple alto sax melodies, far more easily than I expected.
The book follows the common theme of a gradual introduction to each of the notes and fingering on your sax, with simple notes and patterns, progressing to simple melodies (some of which require a challenging fleetness of finger!). For each of these stages, the CD (included) demonstrates the saxophone part, complete with other instruments for your "backing group", and is then followed by just the backing for you to play along with. I found this method worked very well, and of course the tonal quality of the CD won't deteriorate or get "out of tune" over time as a cassette is likely to do.
The author shows us the absolute basics - from the components of the sax, through setting it up and the correct posture, to breathing technique and tounging. There are plenty of helpful photos, and many handy hints throughout the book. All the natural notes, covering two octaves, plus rests, key signatures, rhythm and the accidentals are introduced smoothly. A sax fingering guide is included for checking up on the more "advanced" notes. The author understands how to communicate the basics very clearly. It's fair to say though that no book can totally replace a real-life teacher - someone ought to check up on you occasionally to make sure you've interpreted the book right!
The format is slightly bigger than A4 in each dimension, and conveniently opens and remains flat when you're playing your sax, despite its staple-only binding. The disk can be used as a CD-ROM in your computer (but it's not compulsory!), and has links to a couple of Internet suppliers of purchasable sheet music. I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't a site provided by either the publisher or the author from which to download some more musical scores for free (as a service to their book-purchasing customers). This, however, is a minor niggle. There's a "further reading" section at the end of the book.
Overall, I think this book succeeds brilliantly as an "absolute beginners" guide. I found the combination of clarity, intuitiveness and the backing tracks made me want to press on, engage with the music, and experiment; it's been quite inspirational. It has been my springboard to more complex music, yet I still refer to it now for reminders and clarification. This guide is an excellent place to kick off your saxophony!
50 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Sheet music
This book is a must for anyone who is starting out on the Saxophone. It has very clear instruction and lessons with interesting melodies to practise. The CD is a great help an I have found learning so far to be very enjoyable. I have progressed very quickly and think this book is a very good place to start.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Sheet music
in addition to previous reviews:
This book is very good to get you started with your Alto, however: if you can read music and spend more than 10 minutes a day with your instrument, the book lasts roughly 2 days! What is taught is thorough and useful, but if you are - like I - mildly talented and can read music you would be better off with a more "long-term" investment, like Jazz Method for Saxophone (with Audio CD) for Alto Saxes or Learn as You Play: Saxophone (Learn As You Play).
This book is very good to get you started with your Alto, however: if you can read music and spend more than 10 minutes a day with your instrument, the book lasts roughly 2 days! What is taught is thorough and useful, but if you are - like I - mildly talented and can read music you would be better off with a more "long-term" investment, like Jazz Method for Saxophone (with Audio CD) for Alto Saxes or Learn as You Play: Saxophone (Learn As You Play).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Starts at Step 1
This book is what it says on the tin - for ABSOLUTE beginners, it looks at everything you need to know when you first get a saxophone and are scared to even take it out of the box! Read more
Published 3 months ago by BookBliss
very good begginer book
I have found this book very good . easy enough to follow and the fingering chart is great. i did not no anything about the sax keys before i got this book
Published 3 months ago by Mark G. Gregory
Excellent for beginners
I could not read music, or play any instrument, before I bought this book and CD. I have wanted to play the Sax since I was 12. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Nicksy
Really liked it.
I really liked this book as a late developing debutant to the saxophone. It has got me on the right path and helped me learn to play so I would suggest it to others. Read more
Published 13 months ago by blanco
Wonderful
it is perfect for a cold start.
Specifically the CD, where you can find, as beginner, a wonderful help to tune your sounds. Read more
Specifically the CD, where you can find, as beginner, a wonderful help to tune your sounds. Read more
Published 20 months ago by vecchia quercia
Great book
I bought this book along with my first sax. Im now well on my way to being a proficient saxophonist and ive only had it a week, its great!
Published 21 months ago by Martin
Worth having.
As an absolute beginner, this is the book for me. I find it easy to follow and understand. The practicalities of components of the instrument and cleanlines is dealt with very well... Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2010 by Plain English Please
???
Hi there
This is not a review but a very popular question.
This the book have songs in it aswell or is it just a guide?
Thank-You!
This is not a review but a very popular question.
This the book have songs in it aswell or is it just a guide?
Thank-You!
Published on 3 Dec 2009 by R. Ellahi
Beginners Guide
The book and CD are excellent.As a complete novice at both playing the sax and reading music this is the book for me. Well explained and easy to follow, at your own pace. Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2009 by R. F. Johnstone
VERY CLEAR BEGINNERS BOOK
I found this book a great help. I am learning to play with the help of a tutor but this is a great reference book for checking on the basics when there is no-one around to ask. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2009 by oyster
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