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 you’re confident – try changing
between notes

PLAY Rest PLAY Rest PLAY

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Page 2
Alto Saxophone
Me, Myself, I
(The note mi)
Track 5

 B
         

Dot Dot Dash

     
Track 6
      

Track 7
Going Down
(The Note re)
 A
         

Dawn raid
Track 8

              

Track 9
Home Note
(The note do)

   
G
      

York March
(up and down)
Track 10
          

Track 11
Match the Tone

 
solo

band solo

band
 
solo

band

solo

band

Page 3
 Skip or Trip
Track 12 (using notes me and do)

                 

Meet Ray Downtown

Track 13 (more practice on the first three notes)

                 

Switch
Track 14

                

Hot Cross Buns

Track 15

       

            

Track 16
Au Clair de la Lune
(French folk song)

            

           
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 so

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
 Far and Wide
Track 17
Introducing the note fa

         

          

We Will Rock You Freddy Mercury


A

             
B

               
A

              

             
repeat and fade

       
stomp stomp clap
      

Track 18
Bile 'em Cabbage Down
Staccato and Legato
      
                          
 

              
     
    
Page 6
 Track 19
So What?
Introducing the note so and dynamics

   
  
f p

          
f p

Track 20
We are all Brothers Beethoven
(Playing in harmony)

               

            

Track 21
Love me Tender
(with apologies to Elvis Presley)

A

             

            

Love me Tender
(with apologies to Elvis Presley)

B 
             


           
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 la

Things to try each day:

ƒ Try to play long notes – 8 or more counts

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

Page 8
 Frere Jaques
Round and melodic ostinati
B
    
          
C D
           
        

Ostinato 2

Ostinato 1

                     

Sword Dance

A Drone ostinato, ABA structure

melody
  
           
f Fast
B
      
          
p

              
   
A
      
           
f

   
       

  

       
Page 9
 12 bar Blues in F
Swing style, call and response, improvisation.

Track 22

                     

Note set 4-beat riff 8-beat riff
 

When the Saints

(Using chords I and V)

A                 
P cresc.

             
f dim.

            
p

When the Saints

(Using chords I and V)

                
   
B, C
P cresc.

             
f dim.

           
   

p
Page 10
 Three bonus tunes....
         
     

 
                

          


         
  

 
                
3

       
          
3


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

     
Repeat 4 times
          
B A G

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

          

1 Sing these rhythms using doo as shown

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

  
x4

Use track 1
        
doo-oo doo-oo doo doo doo doo doo-oo-oo-oo doo doo doo-oo


x4

Use track 2
        

  
x4

Use track 3
       


x4

Use track 1
          
Page 12
2
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

Rhythm

All correct Most correct Only a few correct

Technique and Posture

1. Sitting up straight or not sitting up straight

2. Taking deep breaths or not taking deep breaths
3. Correct hand position or 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 
   
                 
f p


                        
f
 

Page 15
 Sound Start Bands Practice Schedule

Date What to practise M T W T F S S Adult’s Comment

Page 16