Play with a Pro Alto Sax Music: Alto Saxophone Book & MP3 Downloads

Sitting in on a jam session with someone who knows their way around a bandstand. The playing is relaxed but precise, the grooves lock in without sounding mechanical, and you're never quite sure where a tune might go next.

Beginning alto saxophonists who respond better to real music than to exercises. This works equally well for band kids exploring jazz for the first time and for private lesson students who want context beyond classical etudes.

• Start by learning the melody on the first pass through each track; play it straight before you begin experimenting with the recorded accompaniment's interpretation.
• Isolate the rhythm section in your mind. Notice how the drums and bass establish the pocket before you worry about matching the band's exact phrasing.
• Pay attention to dynamics in the recordings. Jazz and blues especially depend on space and restraint, not volume. Match what you hear rather than playing at a consistent level throughout.
• Once you have the melody secure, switch focus to the harmony parts and use the MP3s to rehearse as a section player, not just a soloist.

These tracks make excellent material for a jazz ensemble's first month or for individual practice during a unit on twentieth-century styles. You can also pull individual tunes to feature alongside classical or contemporary concert music, since the variety of genres means you'll find something that complements almost any concert theme.

• Reading and executing swing, Latin, and rock rhythmic feels
• Balancing melody against recorded harmony parts
• Listening for phrasing and articulation cues in a full band context
• Translating blues and jazz scales into idiomatic performance
• Matching intonation and ensemble blend with recorded accompaniment