Music to play. Organized by level.
Play means play like kids play. Music needs to be fun part of the time. Other times it is work. Check out the music in here and play around with it, enjoy it. Sometimes the music in this section will be used for assignments, other times it is just for enjoyment. Let me know if you have requests for songs you want to learn. I’ll help you get started with them or get you past a part where you are stuck.
Spend part of your ‘practice time’ each day playing, where you’re not worrying too much about everything. Kids learn faster than adults many times, one difference is that adults don’t play as much! (Or get as much sleep).
Ignoring the importance of play will slow down your progress. Of course, just playing all the time and not working will too. Both are necessary. As are sleep and some downtime.
I can get you some full songs of classical music and will help you get started with other songs you want to learn by ear. If you want arrangements or full versions of more modern music, I have bought music through sheet music plus before. Thanks
Beginning:
Level 1:
Twinkle Twinkle (PDF, right click and save as)
twinkle_twinkle_alto (mp3, right click and save as)
twinkle_twinkle_tenor (mp3, right click and save as)
Loch Lomond (PDF, right click and save as)
Slow recording on tenor, tenor. saxophone_tribe_loch_lomond_slow_tenor (mp3, right click and save as)
Faster recording on tenor. saxophone_tribe_loch_lomond_tempo_tenor (mp3, right click and save as)
Beginning Level 2:
Kookaburra (PDF, right click and save as)
Alto sax. kookaburra_alto_saxophone_tribe (mp3, right click and save as)
Tenor Sax. kookaburra_tenor_saxophone_tribe (mp3, right click and save as)
Alto sax. (mp3, right click and save as)
Tenor Sax. (mp3, right click and save as)
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Recording:
Broken into pieces and played slowly (out of rhythm)
sugarplum_slow_out_of_time_saxophone_tribe (mp3, right lick and save)
Faster ((Play it slowly at first though!):
sugarplum_alto_tenor_saxophone_tribe (mp3, right lick and save)
Intermediate:
I recorded St. James at 66 bpm. I suggest you start there or slower.
Sheet Music – St. James Infirmary (PDF, right click and save as)
Slow St James recording alto (mp3, right lick and save)
Slow St James recording tenor (mp3, right lick and save)
Advanced:
Bouree (PDF, right click and save as)
I also would recommend buying the JL Small Book with 27 pieces
Samuel Golden says
Lindeman exercise helps in finger to key note control, learning the space of the note.Practice may help in tempo and playing the note for the right measure of time through the bars of music piece. St. James Infirmary, good practicing piece, before or after Lindeman exercise.
Sam Golden
Doug says
Neal,
I worked on St. James Infirmary today and got it down pretty well, however I have a question about tempo with an electronic metronome. I was at about 85 and am not sure it that is in the ball park as to where I should be playing it compared to what you played. May be a little guidance with the electronic metronomes.
Thanks
Doug
Neal says
Hey Doug,
I think I played it at 66 bpm on my recording. Not too different, a little faster. What else would you like to know about using a metronome?
Thanks
-Neal
Neal says
Hey Tim,
Had already recorded them, just added the recordings to the page. Keep working on St. James, wanted to hear another recording of that from you after I listened to the first one. Thanks
KT says
Usually it is difficult for me to slow down, even while learning. St. James Infirmary was easy to play slowly. For once, I am not playing too fast.
Neal says
I think you need to learn how to slow anything down, for St. James it’s probably easier since it’s originally a pretty slow piece.
KT says
Satchmo! His version is my favorite. I find different lyrics on about half the versions to which I listen.
Neal says
All right, I really like that version too. Listen to it a good number of times and try and play it how he does. Get me a recording, either in his style or played straight.
KT says
Oh, I listened to a few versions on line. The lyrics seem to change, but I recognize the song. This should quite an experience.
Neal says
Cool, a few versions I like are Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and Trombone Shorty. Which is your favorite so far?
KT says
Neal,
Thanks for adding another song. I listened tou your slow version. To my surise, I correctly identified the high ad, the A down to G parts and, of course the whole rest.
The chords look like guitar slash chords. I cannot wait to try a blues song.
Thanks for your feedback. Later versions of all are improving.
KT says
I practiced Loch Lomond but have never heard it. One line seemed familiar lyrically. Is there a recording or is it just the music and some interpretation?
Neal says
Hey Kate,
I would just read the music as written at first and then add in some interpretation. You can get ideas from different recordings.
Samuel Golden says
Hey Neal, Level one, the classic, is just right for my skill level right now. Had trouble with the foreign tune. Seems as though knowing the tune helps through the notes.
Still, the sixteenth and eighth notes are a bit much and preventing my playing the intermediate level as well as a fast level one piece. The finger drill has aided my progression in coordination, still there is a way to go for capturing the scales with the very high notes and very low note as well as flats and sharps.
My practice starts with the very simple songs of level one. Twinkle twinkle , happy birthday, and a few other pieces managing to get through only because of familiarization. Then on to the scales, playing as many as possible a few reps each.The finger drill is next and after two passes through the warm up session is done. Then back to tunes from an easy to medium song book.
Essential Songs for the Alto Sax by Hal Leonard. Starting very slow on a song once the picking up the pace. The metronome is slowly pointing out tempo although my reaction is slow to respond in time for the next note. Having a few nursery songs for my very young captive audience is great.
Have a great-day! Samuel Golden
Neal says
Hey Samuel,
Glad those are helping you. I’ll put up some more tunes at a similar level, and include recordings. In terms of tempo, I’ll start with a slower tempo, maybe will include a faster tempo too. But I strongly encourage you to start at a slow tempo.
In terms of the sixteenth notes, you can think of them as fast eighth notes at first and basically change the value of everything you see.
-Neal