Now Available
A Practical Guide for Teaching the Saxophone to Beginners
by Lyle Rebbeck
A Practical Guide for Teaching the Saxophone to Beginners
by Lyle Rebbeck
About The Book
This guide is all about getting the right start in learning to play the saxophone
For 39 years, the author has been teaching the saxophone in a conservatory setting. Most of the students are started as complete beginners. This guide is the result of those years of teaching.
It is filled with practical information that can help you become a master teacher of the saxophone. If you are learning the saxophone, it will provide a wealth of advice, tips and information on becoming a better player.
The saxophone, like any instrument, has its challenges. With the right information and proper guidance, anyone can learn to play the instrument, and play it well. A Practical Guide for Teaching the Saxophone to Beginners will help you or your students achieve this mastery.
This guide addresses the major areas necessary for learning the saxophone
A Practical Guide for Teaching the Saxophone to Beginners takes a chronological approach, beginning with the first lesson, and progresses through the initial months and years and the issues and areas that will arise in the normal course of learning this wonderful instrument. Some topics covered include:
- Choosing equipment and method books
- Good tone production
- Pitch tendencies and corrections
- Reeds - choosing the right strength - making adjustments
- Tonguing styles and associated challenges
- Basic maintenance including changing a pad
- Vibrato
- Common challenges in a band setting
- Adult beginners
- Complete 7 year syllabus and suggested further reading.
For a detailed listing of topics covered, see the Table of Contents by clicking the link below.
Praise
Dr. Frederick Hemke
The book is a practical and readable guide comprehensible to both students and teachers. It provides a unique contribution to the field of music education because it is so comprehensive, easy to read, and addressed especially to beginner saxophone students by a talented saxophonist/musician/teacher who has spent his life teaching at this formative and important level of learning.
I recommend this outstanding book to you with confidence and enthusiasm.
Dr. Frederick L. Hemke
Louis and Elsie Snydacker Eckstein Professor Emeritus of Music
Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music
Northwestern University
Jean-Marie Londeix
A Practical Guide For Teaching The Saxophone To Beginners is without a doubt an indispensable work, full of practical observations and essential educational principles. You’ve done a remarkable job. Bravo!
A Practical Guide for Teaching The Saxophoe to Beginners est manifestement un ouvrage indispensable, rempli d’observations pragmatiques et de principes éducatifs essentiels. Vous avez fait là un travail remarquable. Bravo!
Jean-Marie Londeix
Bordeau, France
James Stoltie
To say that Lyle Rebbeck’s “A Practical Guide for Teaching the Saxophone to Beginners” is comprehensive falls short of expressing its incredible pedagogical detail. The “Guide” reflects in amazing clarity his lifetime dedication to playing the saxophone and teaching the instrument to students of all ages. A walk through the guide is like a flash back to all of the ways that saxophone teachers have tried in an effort to reach the unique and individual learning styles of their students. Oh to be that thorough and systematic would insure the success of many more students. From physical characteristic of students, to the first lesson, through the details of breathing, embouchure, tonguing, vibrato, reeds, fingering options, mechanical issues, methods, literature, recordings, and teaching in unique settings, no detail has been left to chance. Lyle Rebbeck’s “A Practical Guide…” is an essential reference for anyone faced with the exciting opportunity and responsibility of teaching saxophone or playing the instrument.
James Stoltie, Dean Emeritus
Professor (Teacher of Saxophone)
The Crane School of Music
State University of New York
Potsdam, NY
Dr. Joseph Murphy
This is a perfect resource for all instrumental teachers and all saxophonists at any level. It’s equally valuable for the student and the teacher. I use it for the Saxophone Pedagogy course, and have copies of it on reserve in the music library. It ranks up there with Teal’s, The Art of Saxophone Playing.
Dr. Joseph Murphy
Assistant Department Chair
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Dr. William Street
In this fascinating and practical book, Lyle Rebbeck approaches the topic of teaching the saxophone to beginners with the experience of many years of distinguished teaching and artistically playing the saxophone. He brings practical suggestions to problems faced by young music educators and players everywhere. The material is presented with concise and easy to read language free from jargon. This book is a must have for the aspiring music educator.
Dr. William Street
Professor and Chair
Department of Music, Faculty of Arts
University of Alberta
About the Author
Lyle Rebbeck
Lyle Rebbeck has a Bachelor of Music/Music Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, where he studied saxophone with Dr. Fred Hemke and James Bishop. He has been a resident at the Banff Centre and has been active as a performer in both classical and jazz genres.
Lyle taught woodwinds and jazz improvisation and coached woodwind chamber ensembles with Medicine Hat College from 1985 to 2023. He served as Artistic Manager for the Medicine Hat College Conservatory of Music and Dance from 2000 to 2012. He continues to teach saxophone and flute privately.
Lyle is a founding member of the Medicine Hat Jazz Society and was the Executive/Artistic Director of the Medicine Hat JazzFest from 1999 to 2024. He continues to work with the JazzFest as Administrative Consultant. He wrote a jazz column for the Medicine Hat News from 1997 to 2019.
In 2003, Lyle was the recipient of the City of Medicine Hat Civic Recognition Cultural Award for his contribution to the arts in Medicine Hat. In 2005, he was awarded a Province of Alberta Centennial Medal for his contributions to music and the performing arts that have benefited his community and the province. In 2012, he was awarded a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his role as a teacher and mentor to students who have gone on to pursue careers in music.
Lyle has been privileged to teach hundreds of students over the years, many of whom have gone on to establish music careers or have discovered the richness that music and the arts add to their lives and careers in many diverse fields.