What Else Can I Play Alto Sax 2: Alto Saxophone

A musical scrapbook that moves from waltzes and holiday traditions to Broadway charm and maritime folk songs. The variety keeps ears fresh and hands engaged, offering the satisfaction of playing real, memorable tunes rather than abstract études.

Alto saxophonists working through early intermediate repertoire who want to expand beyond method book exercises. This collection suits students ready to tackle recognizable melodies with some harmonic independence while building confidence in varied musical styles.

• Approach the jazz standards and show tunes with conversational phrasing; these melodies benefit from rhythmic flexibility and rubato rather than metronomic precision.
• Balance tone production across the range by listening carefully to intonation in the upper register, where alto sax can tend sharp.
• Use the hymns and carols as opportunities to practice sustained, lyrical playing with consistent air support through phrase endings.

Program individual selections in recitals or student showcases, grouping carols together for holiday concerts or alternating styles to demonstrate breadth. Many of these arrangements work well as performance pieces for jazz ensemble or woodwind quintet combinations when adapted.

• Reading extended melodic lines with idiomatic phrasing in multiple keys
• Tone production and intonation across the full alto sax range
• Interpreting stylistic nuances across jazz standards, hymns, folk tunes, and theatrical music
• Breath management through sustained lyrical passages