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Highly Recommended Books about the Saxophone:

The Rough Guide to Saxophone. Hugo Pinksterboer. Published by Rough Guides Ltd.
A short, succinct book whose strength lies in explaining the mechanics of the instrument, reeds, mouthpieces, and accessories. A short section is included on the history of the sax and the whole family of saxophones is represented, however, there is little on the literature and playing techniques. Great illustrations. All in all, very interesting and a lot of information explained clearly and effectively in a reasonably priced book.

The Cambridge Companion to the Saxophone. Edited by Richard Ingham. Published by Cambridge University Press.
This book's strengths are in the areas of the classical saxophone literature, an overview of the sax quartet, an introduction to the life of Adolphe Sax, the early history of the instrument, and contemporary techniques. There are also interesting chapters on saxophone performers from classical to rock with all styles in between.

The Art of Saxophone Playing. Larry Teal. Published by Summy-Birchard.
This classic should be in every saxophonist's library. In this book, virtually every aspect of saxophone performance is touched on. The mechanics of playing the instrument are well addressed in chapters on the mouthpiece, reed care, playing position, breathing technique, embouchure, tone quality, etc. An essential part of your collection.

Saxophone High Tones. Eugene Rousseau. MMB Music.
The definitive work on the altissimo. Fingering charts for all members of the saxophone family, great explanations of the technique, great introductory and advanced exercises.

Developing A Personal Saxophone Sound. Dave Liebman. Dorn Publications.
Liebman's well thought out interpretation and development of legendary saxophone teacher Joe Allard's teaching method. An excellent book  explaining the mechanics of sound production on the saxophone. Because of it's completeness and attention to detail, accomplished players and teachers will find it an excellent source of information. Beginners may find it too complex for their tastes. The best use of this book is for refining the approach of someone who has already acquired a significant amount of playing experience.

Saxophone Warm-ups. Steven Mauk. Dorn Publications.
An excellent source of ideas and examples of effective warmups. Emphasis is placed on the warmup of the mind and body to reduce injury and to maximize performance skills. This book helps you to get the most out of any practice session by increasing your focus on the task at hand.

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