U.Play.Plus: Pops: Alto Saxophone Book

López's arrangements capture the energy of these pop and rock classics without sacrificing musicality, and the U.Play.Plus format means your alto saxophonists can perform alongside any combination of instruments in your ensemble. The two-line score system with cue notes removes the barrier of missing parts, so whether you have a full band or a small group, every student plays a real harmonic function.

High-energy and instantly recognizable. These are songs students know from radio and streaming; playing "Billie Jean" or "Don't Stop Believing" immediately connects rehearsal room work to the world they live in. The arrangements maintain the hooks and character of the originals while sitting comfortably under the fingers of developing players.

Alto saxophonists in grades 2-3 ensembles who want to play contemporary pop and rock repertoire at an accessible level. This book works equally well for small ensembles, band programs with mixed instrumentation, or combined winds and strings groups.

• Lock in with the rhythm section accompaniment tracks during rehearsal to build confidence in phrasing and dynamic shape; the demonstration tracks show one interpretation, but encourage your section to find their own voice.
• Pay close attention to the cue notes when full instrumentation is unavailable; they're written to maintain harmonic completeness and keep the arrangement sounding full.
• Blend the alto line with upper woodwinds or trumpets when available, but let the melody sing clearly on passages marked as the A line.

Use this book to build ensemble cohesion across your mixed instrumentation groups, or program a pop medley concert in spring when students need a confidence boost before final assessments. The flexibility of the format also makes it ideal for a pops night where different combinations of students can participate.

• Sight-reading two-line scores with harmonic context
• Balancing melody against harmony parts
• Playing with recorded accompaniment and rhythm sections
• Transposing understanding (reading concert pitch parts on an alto saxophone in E-flat)
• Ensemble blend across mixed woodwind and brass combinations
• Phrasing and articulation in contemporary pop and rock styles