Band Today, Part 3: B-flat Tenor Saxophone Book

Ployhar understands exactly what advanced-intermediate players need: foundational material that challenges without overwhelming. The balance of scales, rhythmic studies, and contemporary compositional styles prepares your section for modern repertoire while solidifying core technique. This book moves beyond drill-based exercises by pairing musicianship development with material students actually want to play.

This method balances discipline with musicality. You move through scales and technical studies that build finger security and intonation control, but Ployhar's compositional ear keeps the material sounding musical throughout. The contemporary rhythm studies offer a glimpse forward to the modern compositions your ensemble will soon tackle.

Tenor saxophone players who have moved beyond beginning fundamentals and are ready for the technical and musical demands of intermediate concert band repertoire. This book works best for players entering middle school advanced groups or high school bands seeking to strengthen musicianship before tackling demanding contemporary works.

• Assign scale studies as daily warm-up routines. The major and minor scales in this book reinforce the harmonic vocabulary your ensemble will encounter in more complex contemporary pieces.
• Use the chromatic scale exercises to address intonation challenges specific to your section. Tenor saxophone benefits from consistent, focused work on this material at the beginning of rehearsal.
• Rotate through rhythmic studies at the start of sectional rehearsals to address timing issues before moving to full ensemble work.
• Tackle the articulation studies as a section to ensure unified tonguing style across your saxophone family.

Use this as your primary sectional resource during the fall and winter concert season when your ensemble is preparing intermediate-level literature. The scale and articulation studies directly support the harmonic and technical demands of Band Today repertoire and similar contemporary concert band pieces. Assign it for summer practice or as a bridge between a beginning method and more demanding solo/étude literature.

• Major and minor scale fluency across multiple keys
• Chromatic scale technique and intonation precision
• Rhythmic reading in contemporary styles and mixed meters
• Unified articulation and tonguing in ensemble context
• Sight-reading of moderately complex rhythmic patterns
• Technical facility across the staff and extended range