SoundStart Bands

Alto Saxophone

The First Three Notes

Alto Saxophone
The first note we learn is the note mi

Also called B

Left Hand
1
Right Hand (Thumb under rest,
fingers off the keys)
The second note we learn is the note re

Also called A

Left Hand
1 2
Right Hand (Thumb under rest,
fingers off the keys)
The third note we learn is the note do

Also called G

Left Hand
1 2 3
Right Hand (Thumb under rest,
fingers off the keys)

Things to try each day:

1. Sit or stand straight but comfortably
2. Curl bottom lip over teeth
3. Form a flat chin
4. Place reed on bottom lip
5. Top teeth on top of mouthpiece
6. Take a slow, full breath
7. Aim for a steady sound
8. Try to hold for 4 or more counts
9. Look in mirror and at the picture
10. Try all three notes check fingering
with the diagrams
11. When youre confident try changing
between notes

PLAY
1 2 3

Rest
1 2 3

PLAY
1 2 3

Page 2

Rest
1 2

PLAY
1 2 3

Alto Saxophone

Me, Myself, I
(The note mi)

Track 5

Dot Dot Dash

Track 6

Going Down

Track 7

(The Note re)

Dawn raid
Track 8

Home Note

Track 9

(The note do)

York March
Track 10

(up and down)

Match the Tone

Track 11
solo

band

solo

band

Page 3

solo

band

solo

band

Skip or Trip
(using notes me and do)

Track 12

Meet Ray Downtown

(more practice on the first three notes)

Track 13

Track 14

Switch

Hot Cross Buns

Track 15

(French folk song)

Au Clair de la Lune

Track 16

Page 4

Notes fa and so
Alto Saxophone
The note fa

Also called C
Left Hand
2
Right Hand (Thumb under
rest, fingers off
the keys)
The note so -

Also called D

Left Hand T 1 2 3
(T = Thumb on octave key)

Right Hand 1 2 3

Here are all five notes you have learned called a scale

do

re

me

fa

Things to try each day:

1. Aim for a beautiful, clear, steady sound
2. Try to hold for 8 or more counts
3. Try all FIVE notes check fingerings with the
diagrams
4. learn where the notes are on the stave
5. Play up and down the scale many times
6. Make up your own rhythms and tunes using
the five notes
7. Play the pieces in the book using the CD
backing tracks

Practice the scale using any one of these four rhythms:

Page 5

so

Far and Wide

Track 17

Introducing the note fa

We Will Rock You

A

Freddy Mercury

stomp stomp clap

Track 18

repeat and fade

Bile 'em Cabbage Down

Staccato and Legato

Page 6

So What?

Track 19

Introducing the note so and dynamics

(Playing in harmony)

Beethoven

Love me Tender

Track 21

We are all Brothers

Track 20

(with apologies to Elvis Presley)

Love me Tender
B

(with apologies to Elvis Presley)

Page 7

Notes la and ti
Alto Saxophone
The note la

Also called E
Left Hand T 1 2 3
(T = Thumb on octave key)

Right Hand

1 2

The note ti -

Also called F sharp

Left Hand
1 2 3
(Thumb on pad)
Right Hand
2

Here are all seven notes you have learned:

ti

do

re

mi

fa

so

Things to try each day:

Try to play long notes 8 or more counts
Take deep breaths without moving your shoulders
Make sure your tongue touches the reed when
tonguing
Play tunes along with the CD backings
Make up your own tunes
Give a performance to your family
Listen to some expert saxophone players
Go to a concert
Buy a saxophone CD
Look up learning the saxophone on the internet
Look after your saxophone and keep it in a safe
place!

Page 8

la

Frere Jaques
Round and melodic ostinati
B

Drone ostinato, ABA structure

f Fast

Sword Dance

melody

Ostinato 2

Ostinato 1

Page 9

12 bar Blues in F
Swing style, call and response, improvisation.

Track 22

4-beat riff
8-beat riff

Note set

When the Saints

A

(Using chords I and V)

cresc.

dim.

When the Saints

(Using chords I and V)
B, C

cresc.

dim.

Page 10

Three bonus tunes....

Page 11

Alto Saxophone
Sound Start Practice Sheet 1 (Warm ups)
Play long notes on the notes mi (B), re (A) and do (G).

Repeat 4 times

Play repeated TONGUED notes on mi (B), re (A) and do (G).

Repeat 4 times

1 Finger these exercises silently until they are memorised

2 Then play them - use the tongue to start each note.
3 When you can do this, play them without using the tongue.

x4

x4

x4

x4

x4

x4

1 Sing these rhythms using doo as shown

2 Now play on your instrument - always use the tongue to start each note.

Use track 1

doo-oo

doo-oo

doo

doo

doo

doo

doo-oo-oo-oo

doo

doo

Use track 2

Use track 3

Use track 1

Page 12

doo-oo

For each of these tunes:

1 Using a pencil, write in the letter names under each note.
2 Say the rhythms using doo
3 Sing using note names and finger the notes silently
4 Now play!
( you can use track 4 as a backing track)

Page 13

Individual Practice self-evaluation sheet

Name____________________________

Date___/____/______
Practicing

When I practised this week I found it easy to _____________________________________

When I practised this week I had trouble with ____________________________________

Performing
Title of Piece performed_________________________________
Circle the phrase which describes your performance

Notes
All correct

Most correct

Only a few correct

Most correct

Only a few correct

Rhythm
All correct

Technique and Posture

1. Sitting up straight
2. Taking deep breaths
3. Correct hand position

or
or
or

not sitting up straight

not taking deep breaths
incorrect hand position

Tone (circle any adjectives that describe your sound)

Clear

squeaky

muddy

Closed

fuzzy

wobbly

Controlled

centred

focussed

Pinched

steady

airy

Page 14

Evaluation material
For each of these tunes:
1 Using a pencil, write in the letter names under each note.
2 Say the rhythms using doo
3 Sing using note names and finger the notes silently
4 Now play!
( you can use track 4 as a backing track)
Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Page 15

Sound Start Bands Practice Schedule

Date What to practise

M T

W T

Page 16

F S S Adults Comment