Play Showtime for Alto Saxophone, Book 1: Alto Saxophone & Piano Book

Effortless charm. These arrangements capture the directness and emotional clarity of Broadway songwriting, making each piece feel both playable and genuinely musical rather than like a technical exercise in disguise.

Intermediate alto saxophone students ready to play recognizable music with real style, and teachers seeking accessible Broadway repertoire that doesn't sacrifice musicality. This book works well for students who respond to familiar melodies and benefit from the motivation that comes with playing tunes they know.

• Shape the melody with natural phrasing rather than playing it mechanically; the Broadway origins mean these lines want to breathe like vocal music
• Work the rhythm section coordination with your pianist early, especially in passages where tempo flexibility or rubato might occur
• Listen to recorded versions of these show tunes beforehand to internalize the harmonic context and rhythmic character

Program individual pieces in casual concerts or pops performances where Broadway selections belong naturally. The book also serves as a confidence builder midway through the year when students need proof that their growing facility translates to real, recognizable music.

• Singing phrasing on the saxophone (learning to shape lines like a vocalist)
• Piano collaboration and ensemble balance
• Reading and interpreting jazz-influenced rhythms found in Broadway idioms
• Expression and style appropriate to popular song contexts