Learn to Play Saxophone! Book 1: Saxophone Book

Jacobs built this method around tone production from the very first page, which means your students develop a genuine sound rather than just hitting notes. The graded approach respects the learning curve of beginning saxophonists while the rhythmic work ensures they're not just reading notes in isolation.

Purposeful and foundational. Each exercise builds naturally from what came before, with a strong emphasis on listening to your own sound and understanding why good breath control matters. The material feels straightforward without being boring.

Beginning saxophone students in middle school or early high school, as well as adult learners picking up the instrument for the first time. This book works equally well in private studio settings and beginning band classes.

• Establish a consistent embouchure setup before moving through the exercises; revisit Jacobs' tone production guidance whenever a student's sound becomes thin or airy.
• Use a metronome from the start of Book 1, beginning at a tempo where students can shape each phrase with intention rather than rushing through measures.
• Have students play short passages multiple times in the same practice session, focusing on consistency across repetitions rather than speed.
• Encourage full breath support on every note, even the simple ones; this habit prevents tone collapse as repertoire becomes more demanding.

Use Book 1 as your primary text for the first year of instruction, whether in a large ensemble setting or one-on-one. Its 48-page length covers roughly one school year of regular practice, making it ideal for a structured curriculum that meets weekly or twice weekly.

• Tone production and breath support
• Reading the treble clef in the first and second octaves
• Finger coordination for basic altissimo notes
• Rhythmic reading including whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes
• Proper embouchure formation and maintenance
• Music literacy and note naming on the staff
• Understanding articulation and phrasing