Essential Elements 2000: Eb Alto Saxophone, Book 1
Reviews (180)
This is a great book for the absolute beginner
This is a great book for the absolute beginner. The beginning of the book has vital information needed to properly care for the instrument and for learning proper embouchure. I used this when I was in 7th and 8th grade and now, over 10 years later, I am using it again to re-learn how to play.
THE best book for learning. Used by many teachers.
I'm retired. I've played drums most of my life. Broke my left wrist just before last Christmas. Never healed 100%. Doctor says no promise for complete fix. So, I'll keep the use I do have for light percussion. I want to continue to play in the brass band I belong to. Decided to take up the clarinet as I don't have to twist or bend my wrist. I don't have an ongoing teacher. I bought this book because I noticed at lot of YouTube teachers were using it on their online courses. I do know a retired music teacher and see him when I feel I'm having an issue as I move along with the book. These books give you a very structured method for learning. Clear, concise presentation. If you want to learn an instrument, BUY this book. Again - teacher or not (at least some teacher recommended), you'll be glad to have this book. You'll see it become one of your best investments!
Perfect for new beginner or restart.
Easy to read and follow. Start at the beginning of the book and it walks you through how to read music and how to make notes so if you go through the book page by page your skills grow steadily. I played years ago and I'm enjoying the refresher. Also suitable for a new beginner - child or adult. Full fingering chart at back of book.
Excellent system for learning clarinet
I initially passed on this book because it looked like it was designed mainly for students in band, but after talking to a friend who teaches band, he strongly recommended it for anyone learning clarinet. It is much better than the other book I initially purchased. It is broken up into a series of brief lessons that allow you to set your own pace and alternate between teaching new notes and keys and teaching simple songs that gradually increase in difficulty. As an adult who is teaching myself the clarinet, this is a great way to learn and motivates me to practice more than I had been before using it, and is well suited for learning with or without a teacher. The only and very minor shortcoming I have found so far is that it is a little brief in teaching things like how to assemble and care for the instrument and proper breathing and embouchure, but videos teaching those topics are easily found on YouTube and videos work better for those in the first place. This book is the first volume in a series of three, and I strongly recommend them for anyone learning clarinet, especially if you are working without an instructor.
Essential Elements series
It's an easy to follow method for any instrument there's a book for; any skill level; child or adult. It's awesome they (Hal Leonard) even made them for guitar and other stringed instruments; and there's even a book for the recorder! I am an Instrumental Music Education major and the faculty at my school and almost every music teacher I've come in contact with have recommended this series. Bottom line: Whether you are getting back into playing your instrument, starting on a new one, or your child is joining band; Essential Elements is the most highly recommended way to go!!!
Perfect for an absolute beginner
Great book. I just started the sax today and could play a simple song in the first 10 minutes. I already play flute, so I have an advantage, but this book is extremely helpful. For an absolute beginner you just have to follow note and finger placement. The ebrochure (blowing) is the hardest part and the reason why most quit. This book won't help much there but there are countless resources to help you learn the right technique.
Good book
My 14 year old daughter decided she wants to switch instruments from French Horn to Alto Saxophone. She borrowed an instrument from the school and then used this book to get herself started teaching herself to play the sax. It's worked just fine. It has some stuff in it that was too easy, since she already knows how to read music, but it gave her some nice beginner music to work through, along with fingerings and tips for playing. She has finished this book and we ordered the 2nd book. This is the same book her school used when she first started an instrument in 5th grade.
No cd or DVD included in the book.
Shoes in the picture that the cd and DVD come with the book but nope it doesn't. Instead it has 2 options on a card inside the book: 1. Instant stream/download 2. Get a free cd-rom in the mail or order online at [...] Not sure how long it will take for the cd-rom to arrive in the mail though. Other than that it's seems ok I guess. I am a piano player (I understand this is a Clarinet book), read music and play by ear person for 27 yrs.
Great starting sax book
As an adult who has played several other instruments and knows how to read music, I found this book to be at just the right level. Gives snippets of well known songs or simple classical pieces that increase in difficulty and use the notes learned thus far. New notes are introduced at just the right pace, along with timing details. You will probably want to supplement with a few YouTube videos about proper embouchure, how to get a good sound from notes that trouble you (in my case the very low notes), and for tricky fingerings - but these are readily available.
Keep it or donate it to your child's school.
My suggestion for this book is KEEP IT!! All schools your child go to will recommend this book for band...so don't throw it away or lose it. You will end up purchasing it over and over (depending on the instrument your child plays)...Otherwise, donate it to the school after you're done with the school year. I guarantee a child will get good use of it.
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