unhelpful
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As a complete beginner I needed some passages to inspire and give me confidence to carry on and take the instrument to the next stage. Also, basic instruction's included would have been helpful !
All you get is 'March Slav' and 'Fais Do-Do'. Maybe I have led a sheltered life but come on, when were these little gems last heard in public. Although, saying that, I have not attended a funeral in ages.
The backing tracks provided sound like they were recorded in the fifties.
The book is relatively cheap, but the way to look at it is that its a tenner off something decent. I wish someone would abracadabra my money back.
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The Book I started out with
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Johnathan Rutland was my Saxophone teacher when I started out 6 or 7 years ago. He taught me when I was about 9 or 10 years old and I was using this book at the time. The cover has changed since then but I always found going through these books fun. This book helped me get where I am now and although I have finished the book and left to a different secondary school I have always remembered it. It helped me with the development of breathing, learning notations, different dynamics, rhythms and styles of music and developed altogether my ability to play the saxophone well. I learnt quickly with the help of this book. The book is very straightforward and teaches you everything you need to know if you've just started. I recommend it to everyone who needs to start the saxophone and if anyone lives in Kent then look out for this guy cause he's an awesome teacher.
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Not really for those with no other sax knowledge
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This book is actually more of a play-along songbook than a guide for the absolute beginner with no saxophone experience, as no advice on embouchure, correct breathing, tonguing, care of the instrument etc is given. The only guidance being diagrams indicating which keys to press each time a new note is introduced - maybe the book is intended to be used in conjunction with a teacher. A lot of the songs are a little staid and although there are over 100 in the book, only 72 are actually on the CD. A better introductory book is ‘Play Alto Sax Today’, which in addition to a more imaginative selection of songs, also contains guidance and tips on actually playing the saxophone both in the book and as a voice over on the accompanying CD.
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Excellent, easy book, entertaining with CD.
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Over 100 short pieces, beginner to around Grade 4, a mixture of popular classics, jazz and well known tunes. CD with stereo accompaniment, sax and piano on separate tracks so that the sax can be turned down or completely off. There are also a dozen or so duets and trios without piano accompaniment. Very good value.
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