First Division Band Method, Part 2: E-flat Baritone Saxophone Book

This method has earned its place in thousands of band programs because it works. The sequencing is deliberate, the progression feels natural to young players, and the baritone sax book gives a full voice to a section that often gets shortchanged in method materials. Students feel like they're making real music from day one, not just blowing through isolated exercises.

Straightforward and encouraging. The material feels achievable, never condescending. Familiar folk melodies and simple original compositions build confidence quickly, while the underlying structure quietly develops reading fluency, rhythm accuracy, and the kind of intonation awareness that matures players need.

Beginning baritone saxophonists in their first or second year of study, typically in middle school or high school concert bands. This book works equally well for self-directed learners and those in a full ensemble setting, since the exercises and melodies reinforce the same fundamentals taught across the entire band section.

• Balance your tone with the rest of the saxophone section by matching their dynamic level during tutti passages; baritone often doubles the harmony, so blend rather than lead.
• Work the low register slowly and deliberately. Intonation can be unstable there, so use a tuner and give your voicing time to settle as you expand downward.
• Practice sight-reading the rhythmic patterns in isolation before adding pitch; this method introduces rhythm concepts sequentially, so staying ahead of the notation will build confidence.
• Mark your fingering chart locations in the book's early pages and reference them frequently during the first weeks; muscle memory forms faster with visual reminders.

Use this as your primary method book for beginning baritone players in rehearsal, pairing it with warm-up routines and full-band arrangements. Assign specific pages for weekly practice and check individual progress during section rehearsals. The book's pacing aligns naturally with a school year starting in fall, so students complete Part 2 by mid-spring and are ready to advance to higher-level literature.

• Fundamental fingerings for the baritone saxophone across the range covered
• Rhythmic reading in simple and compound meters
• Whole note, half note, quarter note, and eighth note values
• Dotted rhythm patterns
• Breath control and phrase shaping
• Dynamic awareness through forte, mezzo-forte, and piano markings
• Interval recognition and pitch accuracy in the low to middle register
• Ensemble listening and blend within the saxophone section