Suzuki Music Books Online
Categories
Violin Books
Guitar Books
Piano Books
Recorder Books
Cello Books
Harp Books
Flute Books
Bass Books
Viola Books

The Art of Saxophone Playing

The Art of Saxophone PlayingAuthor: Larry Teal
Brand: Alfred
Category: Book

List Price: $17.95
Buy New: $8.99
as of 9/5/2010 16:06 EDT details
You Save: $8.96 (50%)



Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars 36 reviews
Sales Rank: 12924

Media: Paperback
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Pages: 116
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 11.7 x 8.7 x 0.5

MPN: 00-0057
Model: 00-0057
ISBN: 0874870577
Dewey Decimal Number: 788.66076
UPC: 029156129717
EAN: 9780874870572
ASIN: 0874870577

Publication Date: June 1963
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Written by Larry Teal, this book is considered the "Saxophonist's Bible" . It covers all aspects of sax playing and states it in a way that all can easily understand.


Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 36
1 2 3 4 5 6 ...8Next »



5 out of 5 stars The Bible for Saxophone   March 6, 1998
160 out of 160 found this review helpful

This book is the widely acknowledged prime source for saxophone information. Every sax player should have it! It brings together a wealth of information about many aspects of saxophone playing that is not available in any other single source. It explains the embouchure (lip) needed to play and even has exercises for helping to develop it. It has a fingering chart including alternate fingerings. It also has a very useful chart of pitch alteration fingerings - if your instrument has a few notes that are flat or sharp (very common), then these fingerings can be used to bring them back in tune with the rest of the horn. The essentials of breathing for saxophone are also discussed, again including exercises for developing breath control. The various aspects of tone control are discussed thoroughly. Also the legato and staccatto techniques and how to properly tongue a note are explained very clearly. Mouthpiece terminology and design considerations are shown. Advanced exercises are also given for "mastering the technique". This involves learning to keep the fingers in contact with the keys, proper hand positioning, etc. Doubling (i.e., playing a second instrument, like a clariniet) is often required of the saxophonist and this is discussed. Altissimo fingerings are also shown, although only the advanced students will be interested in them.


5 out of 5 stars First the "craftsman", then the artist   May 29, 2000
Thomas Dworschak
82 out of 85 found this review helpful

Everyone who wants to make a real art of his saxophone playing should have this book. The author first describes the technical matters of the instrument itself: what you should look at if you buy a new saxophone, mouthpiece (with detailed explanations of its parts) or reed (with hints how to adjust it). Then he wants to train the physical conditions of the player, i. e. posture when playing, breathing and embouchure (both with several exercises that can be done without the instrument, just in order to control and strengthen the concernded muscles). He also tells a lot about tone quality, how to produce a vibrato, how to make dynamics correctly and how to pitch notes that are not OK on the instrument. A trill chart is also included in the book. For more advanced players, Teal includes fingerings for the very high register of the saxophone and some information about double tonguing and doubling (playing another woodwind instrument).

The author doesn't want to teach the player improvisation and such things, although they are widely required. His aim is "craftsmanship", and his background when he wrote the book was to make the saxophone more common to "classical music". Teal's idea is that the saxophone player only can be an artist if he masters the technical matters of his instrument, and then he can proceed to playing what he likes. His book is a very good help for every player to learn everything what is necessary for a good playing skill.


5 out of 5 stars A professional's opinion   April 10, 2001
private (Canada)
44 out of 49 found this review helpful

Hello there fellow saxophone players. I hold degrees in classical and jazz saxophone. I've been playing for 16 years and teaching for 10. This book is a good read, and provides much of the supplementary information that can help you on your way. However, there is no substitute for a great teacher. Any teacher worth their salt will lend their copy of this book to you, by the way. A comment about the information on the emboucher. There are generally two ways of forming the emboucher, this is more tense of the two. So that poor guy from China that changed his emboucher to a closed position (as opposed to lip out) no doubt that was a lot of work. A beautiful sound is the goal, whichever emboucher you choose. You may email me at funk347@excite.com if you have more questions about saxophone playing. I'd recommend everyone buy this book for an interesting and informative read. If you're learning the saxophone on your own, you need a book with music! I'd suggest Rubank Elementary Method for Saxophone


5 out of 5 stars Seems that everybody's got it wrong in Czech Republic...   October 14, 2001
Leo Hanus (Zlin, Czech Republic)
24 out of 25 found this review helpful

at least all the teachers I met through the 14 years of amusing myself by publicly pretending that I know how to play the instrument. No wonder that it seemed so hard, for nobody ever told me my embouchure was too tight (taken from clarinet), my posture was wrong, my fingers did a lot of excessive movements... Altissimo register? Alternative fingerings? Double-tonguing? All I could get was but fuzzy fragments of information.

Now I got it. It's all there, clear, all terms defined, even some useful physical background revealed. It'll probably take another 14 years to get rid of all them bad habits, but many things I FELT before, I KNOW now (example: I used to feel uncomfortable about some things recommended in another method book, unfortunately the only one available in Czech language - just the same things are named in Art of... as beginners mistakes), so I'm convinced I'm on the right path. This is probably the most important point - the book is in accordance with what my ears, mouth, lungs etc. "think", and I can feel the improvements every day. Very satisfying. My teachers can now learn from me. So - if there's no chance for you to get a good teacher, buy this book. Period.


5 out of 5 stars A Must for Every Saxophonist   February 24, 2003
Daniel Graser (Wappingers Falls, New York United States)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

I don't care if you play jazz, classical, fusion, or pop you must buy this book if you're a saxophonist. No book even comes close to the sheer amount of information on the saxophone in this book by the greatest sax pedagogue, Larry Teal. You will learn about sax mutes, reeds, articulation, fingerings, altissimo, technique, history, and tons more. Great for beginners and college students looking for some info on their instrument. Wonderful teaching aid. Highly recommended.

Showing reviews 1-5 of 36
1 2 3 4 5 6 ...8Next »


alto saxaphone  bible  instruction  saxophone  saxophone books  
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
Shop with confidence! We've teamed with Amazon.com to provide you with the most secure, reliable, and enjoyable shopping experience.

Terms | Privacy Policy | Contact Us

Secure Payments

©2010 Benefito Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In Association with Amazon
Free Shipping on Orders over $25 Shipping Policies