Top-Tones for the Saxophone: Four-Octave Range [Paperback]

Sigurd M. Rascher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1994

Students can develop their range with this insightful book with text both in English and German. The author focuses on technique and offers musical examples and exercises to help developing players achieve a four-octave range. An important book for all saxophone students!

Product Details

• Paperback: 31 pages
• Publisher: Carl Fischer Music Publisher; 3 edition (June 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082582642X
• ISBN-13: 978-0825826429
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even an intermediate player should have this..., July 8, 2000

By 

Henry B. Stewart (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Top-Tones for the Saxophone: Four-Octave Range (Paperback)

Playing the altissimo register on a sax isn't voodoo, it just takes work.

Finger a low b flat and play long tones up the overtone series while holding this note. Change low fingerings and repeat. Seems easy enough... Not!

Sigurd Rascher's book is essential because it teaches you embouchure control and ear training. An added bonus is that you get to extend your effective range on the instrument by an octave or so.

In my view, intermediate players should start this type of training as soon as they conquer the basic tone production challenges. I have seen many a player literally "take-off" as a result of time spent in this book.

While it may seem tempting to just the learn the fingerings and skip the exercises, don't do it. I tried the same thing years ago and picked up bad habits as well as out of tune fingerings.

Pay your dues and follow the book. Ted Nash and Larry Teal have written books which also address the "falsetto" range of the saxophone.

Get them...

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The bible of tone and altissimo development., November 6, 1999

By 

stengel99 "stengel99" (Bakersfield, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Top-Tones for the Saxophone: Four-Octave Range (Paperback)

This is a must for any serious saxophonist. A large portion of the book focuses on playing overtones from the harmonic series, which is an essential exercise for tone development, embouchure control, and altissimo playing. There's enough material here to keep a serious player busy for a long time.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars essential, November 9, 2006

By 

M. Widzinski (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Top-Tones for the Saxophone: Four-Octave Range (Paperback)

This book is a must for any saxophonist with intent of improving tone quality and centering pitch throughout the entire range. I have found that the overtones section is the best way to warm up in any situation. If your aim is to develop the upper range and altissimo, then get this book! Be sure to read the notes by Rascher!