Teen Jazz Book Reviews
Aaron Santee's Everything Sax Players Should Know
by Shannon Kennedy
Aaron Santee's "Saxophone - Everything Sax Players Should Know" is
an excellent descriptive book that explicitly covers all the essential must -
knows for the beginning saxophonist. This book makes an excellent
teaching tool for teachers and even is a great self - help for the saxophone student.
A little bit about the book::
"Saxophone - Everything Sax Players Should Know" offers advice on
everything from equipment (reeds, mouthpieces, necks, ligatures, etc.)
to technique (embouchure, breathing, vibrato), how to practice, and
even describes the anatomy of the saxophone and its function. The book
also provides saxophone basics such as scales, blues, basic
improvisation, suggested listening, and saxophone fingerings.
My opinion on the book::
"Saxophone - Everything Sax Players Should Know" was very cleverly
designed in a Student to Teacher form, allowing notes and other important
things to be added into the book by the student or the teacher to become
an excellent and very personal resource to its owner.
The Suggested Listening I personally felt was the best section of
"Saxophone - Everything Sax Players Should Know". It illustrated
everything I've heard a thousand times - to steal ideas from everyone. It
explained the importance of emulating what others do and making it your
own. He also recommends a few artists, but leaves it mostly up to the
listener to determine their tastes so they don't get burnt out on any one
style or person. He also lists non sax players which shows that you can learn
from people who don't play your instrument - which I feel is a great
misunderstanding specifically with young musicians.
The jazz section is very well introduced as opposed to more traditional (aka
stiff) beginning jazz books. Aaron Santee provides in detail the
significance and function of scales and sounds by describing the moods and
effects they create in music.
All in all, I feel that "Saxophone - Everything Sax Players Should Know"
is best targeted to the beginning adult saxophonist. Because of the
layout of this book, a more mature player with a teacher would find more
use than a young player. Also, because "Saxophone - Everything Sax
Players Should Know" points out things that beginners often overlook, it
would be a great book for beginning teachers of where to start and what to
teach their students.
To read more about "Saxophone - Everything Sax Players Should
Know" by Aaron Santee, you can visit his website.
