Accent on Ensembles, Book 2: B-flat Tenor Sax Book

This book gives you exactly what you need during contest season: a collection of small ensemble pieces that build confidence without requiring perfectly matched instrumentation. The flexible scoring means you can pull together duets, trios, and quartets from whatever section players you have available, and every piece sits comfortably within the technical range of students working through Book 2 of the method.

The collection spans a genuine range of moods: from the upbeat stride of a march and the soulful swing of a blues tune to the gentle lyricism of a folk air and the jubilant energy of a Broadway classic. Each piece feels substantial enough to matter, yet approachable enough that young players hear themselves making real musical contributions rather than grinding through exercises.

Tenor saxophonists in developing bands and jazz ensembles who are working through Accent on Achievement Book 2 and ready to apply their skills in small group settings. This book also serves students preparing for band contest repertoire or looking for confidence-building performance opportunities beyond solo work.

• Balance the melody with supporting parts by establishing who leads each phrase before rehearsal; mark these roles clearly in your parts so players know when to lock in and when to breathe.
• Let the character of each piece guide your tempo work. The blues and march selections need rhythmic precision, while Londonderry Air and Dona Nobis Pacem reward sustained, singing tone.
• Use these ensembles to rotate players through different voice parts across rehearsals, giving each student experience supporting others and leading melodies.
• Record short run-throughs on your phone during sectional rehearsals so students can hear how their part sits in the texture and adjust blend accordingly.

Schedule these ensembles during sectional rehearsals to build cohesion among your saxophone section while freeing yourself to work with other parts of the band. Slot individual pieces into concert programs between larger ensemble numbers as a showcase for your developing players, or use them as sight-reading practice during contest prep to build flexibility and musicianship under slight pressure.

• Balancing melody and harmony in small ensembles
• Reading and performing in multiple parts within flexible instrumentation
• Sustaining consistent intonation across duets and quartets
• Responding to stylistic demands (blues swing, march rhythms, legato ballad phrasing)
• Listening and adjusting tone color to blend with peers