Music publisher Schott has released a range of new music books for beginner to intermediate players. Here are some of our favourites.
The Play-Along Groove Collection of books from Schott are great for those getting started with improvising. Easy Funk Play-Along is a new addition and it’s brilliant. There are separate books for alto and tenor, plus books for other instruments too.
Written by Ed Harlow, the book comes with a backing CD and has a good selection of easy groove-based tunes that you can get started with quickly and easily.
If you’re a bit further along with your playing, you will enjoy working through the 12 pieces in this new book. With catchy tunes by Jim Snidero (original sax/arranger for Blood Sweat and Tears), Ed Harlow and Fernando Brandao, there is plenty to keep you busy.
Plus, the accompanying CD has all tracks with and without the lead parts to make learning easy.
Sometimes it’s fun to just play through songs that you know, and this new book in the Schott Saxophone Lounge series is packed with them. Soul Classics has a bunch of tunes from Marvin Gaye to Maceo Parker and comes complete with backing tracks on CD. There is also a piano part included.
The arrangements by Dirko Juchem are clear and easy to follow and range from beginner to intermediate level.
Boosey and Hawkes have added this new book to their Bartok Edition series. This is a lovely collection of 25 easy arrangements of melodies by Bela Bartok, one of the leading composers of the 20th century. The CD included has both piano accompaniment and a saxophone performance which is a great reference for learning.
The selections in this book are taken from Bartok’s most popular repertoire including For Children, Mikrokosmos and Romanian Folk Dances.
Get it from: www.boosey.com