Starting to play again and I need advice

[jmd23]

After about six years off from playing Tenor seriously I need some advice on getting back to top form and taking my playing to the next level. I'm looking for some good study books for my technique as well as some advanced theory books to help out my general theory etc. I'm also looking for some good material for my improve skills.

Thanks,
Josh

[frankbiff]

I'm comming back after a 20 yr lay off, started up about 6 mo. ago. My first routine was working my way through Foundation to Saxophone Playing , it's an old one don't konw if its still in print. Still not all the way through yet. Then I started using the 1st of Violas books from Berkley Press, Technique of the Saxophone Vol 1( scale studies) also have 2 ( chord studies) and 3 (Rhythm studies ). The scale studies seem to have greatly impioved my intonation and tone, in addition to improving techinque, my ear and learning the scales. This book includes the sacles in thrids so you also do all scaler chords.

For improvisiong, I'm starting to trasncribe solos etc. Starting with Lester Young and some other Big Band swing people, also some Amstrong and Kid Ory. Usualy not the whole solo, just the parts I'm interested in; to examine the rhythm and harmony. This is slow going so far, but the ear is getting better.

I was looking at doing Kloss, but after looking through them I see they are very simmialr to the 50 progressive exersises in Foundation to Sax and I also note that they do not contain such practice in syncopated rhythms, which to me are very important for jazz and most contmeporary music. Ferling soes not seem to be much better in that regard; however the vol 3 of Violas books is almost entirely syncopated.

Theory, can't help much there, still remember most of it.

[sd7915]

The Universal Method book by Paul Deville is a great book that A LOT of material legit wise to keep you going. It pretty much starts right from the beginning with putting a reed on and works you through everything. Great book.

If you really want to get in to the jazz theory side of things then i would suggest The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine. This book is quite in depth into the theory that goes in to jazz improvisation.

Both of those books are kind of expensive but they are totally worth it in my opinion.

David Baker also has a few books out that I haven't had a chance to check out yet but that I've heard are very good.

Hope that helps
Adam

[gary]

I second the nominations on the Viola books and the Universal Method, transcribing, and the Levine books. Also I'm using the Klosé 25 Daily Exercises.

Regarding improvisation, I've gotten a lot of mileage out of Shelly Berg's Goal Note Method to improvisation, of course the Charlie Parker Omnibook, and have just begun working out of Weiskopf's "Around the Horn".

Regarding sound, I've been using Rascher's Top Tones and the concepts from Dave Liebman's Developing a Personal Saxophone Sound.

These are really just a few options. I'm sure you're aware that there're jillions of choices out there. And, by the way...welcome back. Been there, done that.