Technique Books

Rather than representing the definitive statement on technique, these books should be considered a starting point, because, unfortunately, there is no general agreement on the format of technique! What is the “standard” way of playing even something as simple as a major scale? - Repeat the top note? Include the Arpeggio? Include the Dominant Seventh? And on and on!

Each book is the raw material of Basic Technique: Major and Minor Scales & Arpeggios, Dominant and Diminished Sevenths, Augmented Triads, Scales in Thirds, etc., presented as eighth note groups of four (or three) without articulation.

It can be played as quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes, using “various articulations” (i.e., all tongued; all slurred; slur two, tongue two; etc.).

About the only thing generally agreed about technique is that it should be played from memory. Which brings up the obvious question: why print a book of technique? The answer is quite simple - when you can comfortably play technique, you usually have it memorized, regardless of whether or not you set out to do so. This means that you might as well begin by reading the technique, because by the time that you have practiced it enough that you can play it, it is memorized or very close to it.

Technique is often first practiced as part of an examination requirement and considered, at best, a necessary evil, but more likely, just a waste of time. However, what usually happens is that the student discovers that the “real” music, solos or even studies, now seems easier - could it be that practicing technique actually makes a difference? The answer is, of course, YES!

Again, though, consider these books to be a starting point.

Technique Books are $14.95 each; curently available:

Flute Technique

Clarinet Technique

Because the standard full range of the saxophone has been employed, there are two separate volumes for Saxophone:

Saxophone Technique (low Bb to high F)

and

Saxophone Technique (with high F# key)

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