Belwin 21st Century Band Method, Level 3: E-flat Alto Saxophone Book

This method book respects the developing musician by offering sophisticated repertoire alongside skill-building exercises. The inclusion of rock, jazz, and swing styles keeps alto saxophone players engaged with music they want to play, while the strategic rotation through eight units (each introducing a new key signature) builds confidence and expands harmonic literacy without overwhelming students.

This book balances challenge with reward. Students encounter syncopation and key changes that demand focus, but they also discover the immediate payoff of learning swing rhythms and performing recognizable songs like Take Five and Caravan. The variety across classical, folk, rock, and jazz repertoire keeps the practice experience fresh and culturally broad.

Alto saxophone players completing their third year of band study who are ready for more harmonic sophistication and rhythmic variety. This book serves students aged 14 and up who have mastered foundational scales and rhythms and are prepared for extended exercises, mixed meters, and contemporary musical styles.

• Approach the swing rhythms in jazz-style pieces with a relaxed pulse; think of the eighth notes as connected rather than separate, letting the natural swing feel emerge from the groove rather than forcing it.
• When tackling mixed meter passages, practice the meter changes slowly with a metronome, isolating each time signature before playing them consecutively, so the transition feels natural rather than disruptive.
• Use the performance opportunities after Units 2, 4, 6, and 8 as checkpoints to reinforce what was learned in preceding lessons; these pieces show students tangible progress and reward careful practice.

Deploy this book as the capstone method for students completing a three-year band curriculum. Use the commissioned pieces by Carl Strommen and Mike Story (included after Unit 8) as concert-ready selections that showcase student growth, and feature the Duet Plus and solo with band accompaniment options to give individual alto saxophonists performance opportunities during the school year.

• Reading major and minor keys across eight progressive key signatures
• Performing mixed meters (3/4 and 4/4 within single pieces)
• Playing swing rhythms and syncopated patterns with secure intonation
• Understanding and executing rock-style and jazz-style articulation and phrasing
• Sight-reading extended exercises designed for intermediate players