Alto Sax Beginning Band Primer Part 1 by Mike Davies
Alto Saxophone: The Basics Putting Instrument Together: Step 1:! Open case right side up.! put thin end of reed into your mouth to moisten the reed.! Grease cork if necessary. Step 2:! Put neck strap over head.! Hook strap to body of instrument.! Remove end plug. Step 3:! Put the mouthpiece on the neck so that half the cork is still exposed.! The flat side of the mouthpiece should be on the bottom side. Step 4:! slide loose ligature over mouthpiece.! Center the reed on the flat part of the mouthpiece with only a hairline width of the mouth piece above the end of the reed visible.! Tighten screws of ligature so that the reed is lightly snug (over tightening will crack reed and damage ligature). Step 5:! Put the neck on the body of the saxophone.! Carefully align the connecting lever.! Tighten the neck screw.! I have reviewed all of the steps for Putting Instrument Together. Holding the Instrument: Step 1:! Sit straight up in chair.! Left foot slightly forward.! Both feet on floor. Step 2:! Left hand on top.! Right hand on bottom! Allow neck strap to support sax.! Locate Home Keys for fingers. Step 3:! Support instrument to the right side of your body.! Tighten the neck strap so that the reed touches your lower lip. Step 4:! Keep wrists straight.! Curve fingers in both hands.! keep elbows out.!! I have reviewed all of the steps for Holding Instrument. 2
Playing the First Note: Step 1:! Using mouth piece only (remove mouthpiece)! Shape your mouth by saying the oh. Step 2:! Cover your bottom teeth with part of your lower lip. Step 3:! Place the mouthpiece in your mouth to where the reed and the mouthpiece touch (about 1/4 of an inch).! Aim your air stream to the target which is the center of the reed. Step 4:! Rest top teeth directly on mouthpiece.! Close mouth around mouth piece with equal pressure (no leaks).! Chin should be flat and pointed. Step 5:! Take a full breath of air and blow at the reed using the syllable doo.! If no sound, check to see if air stream is aimed at target.! Put mouthpeice on saxaphone and repeat procedure.! Practice making long steady tones.! Don t use up air too fast. Instrument Care: Step 1:! After playing your saxaphone remove the reed and place it in it s container. Step 2:! Remove the mouthpiece and wipe with a soft cloth.! Replace cover on mouthpiece.! Remove neck, drain and wipe excess moisture. Step 3:! Swab out the body of the instrument. Step 4:! Return instrument to case and close latches.! I have reviewed all of the steps for Instrument Care.! I have reviewed all of the steps for Playing first note. 3
Basic Rhythms 1 Name... Whole note How Long? 4 beats Looks Like... w Nick name... Ta - a - a - a - 2 Half note 2 beats h Whole Notes Last Long Ta - a - Half Note 3 Quarter note 1 beat q Ta 4 Eighth note 1/2 of a beat e Ti 5 Eighth notes 1 beat Ti Ti Rest Symbols Name... How Long? Looks Like... Nick name... 1 Whole rest 4 beats rest - rest - rest - rest Whole Rests Last Long 2 Half rest 2 beats rest - rest Half Rest 3 Quarter rest 1 beat g rest 4 Eighth rest 1/2 of a beat rest 4
Reed Alto Saxophone Ligature Body Neck Left Hand Right Hand Bell Directions: Use the correct embouchure to play only the mouthpiece to get used to blowing air at the reed and counting. 1. Play Rest Rest Rest Rest Rest Play Rest Rest Rest 2. Rest Rest Rest Rest Rest Rest Rest Rest Play Play Play Play 5
First Note w 1 Review Whole Note w Review Whole Note Rest Whole Notes Last Long (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) My 1st note ( MI ) is Exercise 1-A Whole Notes Last Long (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Whole Notes Last Long (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Whole Notes Last Long (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Whole Notes Last Long (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Exercise 1-B Half Note Half Note (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Half Note Half Note (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Half Note Half Note (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Half Note Half Note (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) 6
Exercise 1-C Ta Ta Ta Ta (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Ta Ta Ta Ta (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Ta Ta Ta Ta (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Ta Ta Ta Ta (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Exercise 1-D Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Rest-Rest-Rest-Rest Rest-Rest-Rest-Rest Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Rest-Rest-Rest-Rest Rest-Rest-Rest-Rest Exercise 1-E Bonus: Write in the correct rhythms above the (rhythm) nicknames. Ta - Ta - Ti Ti Ta - Ta - a rest Ta - (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Ta - Ta - Ta - Ta - rest, rest Ti Ti Ta - (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) 7
Second Note w 1 Review 2 Review 3 Measure numbers Meter symbol called Meter signature. Measure or Bar line Beats are in groups of 4 My 2nd note ( RE ) is Exercise 2-A Ta Ta Ta Ta (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Ta Ta Ta Ta (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Ta Ta Ta Ta (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Ta Ta Ta Ta (Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest ) Exercise 2-B 8
Third Note w 1 Review 2 Review 3 Double Barline End or Stop! Stems can go up or down. My 3rd note ( Do ) is Exercise 3-A w Exercise 3-B Exercise 3-C 9
Exercise 3-D Directions: In the blank boxes, write the correct name of the corresponding music rhythm symbols. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Exercise 3-E Bonus: Play this exercise based on the position and length of the shapes to reproduce the correct rhythm. Ta Rest Ta Rest Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest Ta - a Ta - a Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest Ta Ta Ta Rest Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest Ta Ta Ta - a Rest, Rest, Rest, Rest 10
Primer part 2 11
The Staff And Clefs Example 1 The Staff: The next step in reading music is understanding how the staff is used. Example 2 This set of 5 lines are used for writing the letter name of the note also known as the pitch name. The pitch names are based on the musical alphabet A B C D E F G. The note heads are placed either on the line or inbetween the lines in a space. The Treble Clef: This symbol is also known as a treble clef (or G clef) and it is used to designate the note names on the lines and spaces for Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone Trumpet, and Bells. Example 3 The Bass Clef: This symbol is also known as a Bass clef (or F clef) and it is used to designate the note names on the lines and spaces for Trombone, Tuba, Bassoon, Cello and Bass, 12
Line Names, Space Names and Ledger Lines Example 4 Notes have a letter name based on the musical alphabet of A B C D E F G (remember that notes can have rhythm names too). The letter name depends on what line or space the note (note-head) is written on. Line Names Space Names Every Good Boy Does Fine F A C E Example 5 G D A C B B Ledger Lines - are Names of the lines and spaces above and below the 5 line staff. Example 6 The next step in reading music is reading the note rhythms on the lines and spaces of the staff. Don t forget the other note reading symbols like Meter sign that tells how to divide and count the beat. Bar-lines divide the beats into groups of beats called measures. Measure numbers help us find our place, and the double bar-line is the end. Measure numbers Beats Three Note Review Bar-lines Double Bar - The End 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 13
B w & w Three Note Review w B A G ur instrument: hing Cloth Key signature - assigns what scale to use. F is F# (sharp) for Alto Sax. Down Up Down w 2 plus 3 Quarters 14
1. Repeat Sign Repeat - A symbol that composers use often. It means to play the part again. French Folk Melody Hot Cross Buns Down by the Station (Optional Repeat) : 15
& w New Notes C or ( Fa ) Swing Fa S t uden t Page A l t o / Ba r i t o w 47 bw w D or ( So ) So Samba w 16
Spanish Melody Eighth Note(s) are 2 times faster than quarter notes. or e Three Note Cha Cha Cha Merrily We Rhumb-along (Optional Repeat) : 17
Dreydl, Dreydl, Dreydl Soli = one group Tutti = all together King Wenceslas Melody Bonus: Please write (draw) the missing notes below the letter names on the correct location on the staff. 18
Bonus - Note name practice: Write in the note names for Treble Clef 19
Melody From Lightly Row Putting It All Together - Reading Music Remember that reading music is recognizing the note names on the lines and spaces. Reading music is also knowing when to play notes and how long to play the notes (Rhythm). Remember to play using good posture and proper technique. Repeats: Using 1st and 2nd Ending 1st and 2nd Ending - This is a type of repeat in which the the end of the musical phrase changes and the regular repeat won t work. The notes in the 1st ending bracket 1st ending are played and then on the repeat, the music skips to the 2nd ending. The double bar repeat sing is used with the 1st ending bracket. Jingle Bells 20
Dynamics Very Quiet Medium Quiet Loud Dynamics -The loudness or quietness of a song. Quiet Medium Loud Very Loud Bonus - Note Naming Practice - Please write in the names of the note below the note on the space. Aura Lee (Optional Repeat) : Ode to Joy 21
Warm Kitty Soft Kitty (Optional Repeat) : Some Folks (Optional Repeat) : Go Tell Aunt Sallie (Optional Repeat) : 22
Oats N Beans (Optional Repeat) w : E or La A New Note La Di Da w mf (Optional Repeat) : Bonus: Write in the note names for Treble Clef Mystery Song 23
Primer part 3 Alto Sax
1 What is a Tie? A Tie is a curved line that connects two of the same notes. Both rhythm values are added together. Essentially the two notes are glued or tied together to make one longer note. 2 Pick-up notes are notes that start in the middle of a measure. 3 What is Moderato? It refers to a tempo; moderate, restrained. Caisson Melody (Optional Repeat) : Mary Ann 25
Bonus: Write in the note names When the Saints Go Marching #w 1 This meter signature means that the beats are divided into 3 and the quarter note gets one beat. 2 Note review F# 3 Accent - to put emphasis on a note Down In The Valley w (Optional Repeat) : 26
Review 1 2 3 This meter signature means Allegro - means the that the beats are divided tempo (speed of the beat) into 2 and the quarter note should be quick and lively gets one beat. Review Eighth Note(s) are 2 times faster than quarter notes. or e Bile That Cabbage Down 8th Note Workout Skip To My Lou 27
Bonus: Write in the note names Chiapanecas (Optional Repeat) : 1 A round is a song in which two or more parts play exactly the same melody (and may continue repeating it indefinitely), but with each part beginning at different times so that the different parts of the melody fit harmonically together. Frere Jacques 28
1 A Slur is a curved line that connects notes of different pitch together to indicate that only the first note of the connected notes is articulated. It creates a different sound from when every note is articulated separately. Slur (curved line) Roses Of The South (Optional Repeat) : Morning Song Rain Rain (Optional Repeat) : 29
Camptown Races (Optional Repeat) : Oh Susanna (Optional Repeat) : Theme from William Tell (Optional Repeat) : 30
Bonus: Write in the note names Bb Scale Exercise #1 "Pepperoni Pizza Pie" 31
Bonus: Write in the note names Bb Scale Exercise #2 "Rock It" 32
Bonus: Write in the note names Bb Scale Exercise #3 "March" Bb Scale Exercise #4 "Swing It" 33
Rhythm Exercises 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 34
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