Concert Time Beginning Band Book 1 - Alto Saxophone: Alto Saxophone Method Book

The variety packed into 15 pieces means you're not repeating a single compositional approach across the book. Each piece teaches something different stylistically and technically, so students stay engaged and don't hit a plateau early in their first year. Balmages and his co-composers understand what first-year saxophonists actually need: success experiences that also contain real musical substance.

A collection that respects young musicians' intelligence while meeting them exactly where they are technically. The pieces balance accessibility with genuine musicality, so students experience the satisfaction of playing something real rather than drilling through patterns.

First-year band students using alto saxophone, and also strong candidates for second-year students needing a solid technical foundation before moving into more demanding band literature. Teachers looking for a structured method book that avoids endless technical exercises and instead builds skills through actual musical repertoire will find this approach refreshing.

• Listen through all 15 pieces before assigning them to identify which works best suit your particular group's strengths and which ones target specific technique goals you're emphasizing that week.
• Vary the order you present them rather than marching straight through the book. Mixing easier and slightly more challenging pieces keeps motivation high and breaks up monotony.
• Use the stylistic diversity as a teaching tool. Before playing a piece with a different character, talk briefly about what makes it distinct so students aren't just reading notes but engaging with compositional choices.

Assign pieces throughout the fall semester to build repertoire for a winter concert, or select a handful as performance pieces while using others as daily warm-up and technique material. The range of styles makes it easy to program contrasting selections on a concert without leaving the single book.

• Reading and performing in multiple musical styles and compositional contexts
• Sustaining longer phrases with consistent tone quality
• Responding to tempo and articulation markings across different piece types
• Intonation awareness in both lyrical and rhythmic passages
• Ensemble balance and blend with concert band instrumentation