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ALTO SAXOPHONE MASTERY

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Description

DYLAN CRAMER has been obsessed with the alto saxophone for over four decades. Cramer took up the alto at age thirteen, after the sudden death of his father. Six years later, he traveled from Vancouver, B.C. to Los Angeles to seek out and study with legendary jazz alto saxophonist Sonny Criss. After Sonny’s death, Cramer moved on to study with one of LA’s finest woodwind players and studio musicians, Phil Sobel. Since returning to Vancouver, Cramer has recorded five albums, performs regularly with his jazz quartet, and teaches the saxophone full time. In ALTO SAXOPHONE MASTERY, Cramer provides an exemplary collection of principles and guidelines set down from a lifetime of playing and teaching. Cramer devotes his advice to the alto saxophonist based on positioning, air delivery, and finger expertise. He then tackles specific topics such as vibrato, nuance, phrasing, interpretation, and improvisation. Many of the book’s chapters are illuminated by anecdotes of his time spent with both Criss and Sobel. Receiving improper instruction from the outset can be disastrous for the alto saxophonist. As Cramer says, “The alto saxophone is a machine; learn to operate it first, and then and only then, move to the music at hand.” With this book, aspiring saxophonists everywhere will have the benefit of Cramer’s expert guidance and methods in their quest for alto saxophone mastery. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dylan Cramer


Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more


Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2019


Language ‏ : ‎ English


File size ‏ : ‎ 2.8 MB


Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited


Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported


Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled


X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Sunday, Aug 3

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Great service.
Great book. Great service.
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2025 by Alexander Grigolia, Jr

  • Very helpful
Alto Saxophone Mastery successfully conveys author Cramer's joy and passion for creating music on the alto saxophone. It's a quick read that encapsulates many of the concepts of the Lindeman method learned through Phil Sobel's idiosyncratic teaching, and enthusiastically transfers the emotional drive derived from his relationships with Sonny Criss and Phil Sobel. Separating the mechanical aspects of playing the alto saxophone from the technical translation of the dots on a page to music shows the author's thoughtful approach to assisting the reader's efforts to grasp how the two interact. Overall, a significant contribution to educating those brave enough to attempt mastery of that cantankerous alto saxophone! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2019 by Sax Racer

  • Saxophonists: Invest in this book!
For those of us who were lucky enough to study with Phil Sobel this book is a most welcome compendium of the Lindeman/Sobel method. It’s not a dry manual but rather the method personally and accurately outlined by the author including personal anecdotes. Dylan also expands upon methods and tools built upon Phil’s nonpareil teaching. Also included are valuable lessons from Sonny Criss with whom Mr Cramer first studied upon coming to Los Angeles. How fortunate we are that Dylan Cramer has the ability to give us this essential work in an accurate, highly readable and useful format. A+ Highly recommend! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2019 by bronx52

  • Well done , Dylan
As a student of the late, great saxophone master Phil Sobel, I'm sorry that he did not put his insights in book form. That Dylan Cramer wrote this book is a welcome remedy to that situation. I find Dylan to be concise in his laying out of many of Phil's concepts. This book is refreshing to my memory and a great help to my teaching of the saxophone to others. This is an important book. Anyone interested in the art of saxophone playing should check it out. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2019 by Christophe Galuman

  • A small book packed with great wisdom
(Full disclosure: I have known - and occasionally played beside - Dylan for decades) Excellent! A small book packed with much wisdom. Dylan's book reflects his playing: a focus on beautiful, personal tone, and the underlying mechanics of achieving that tone; continuous improvement through ruthless self-listening and self-correction; reminiscences of his beloved teachers; openness about his personal journey. A crucial tool for anyone serious about mastering the saxophone, and willing to invest the effort to apply its lessons. Well done, Dylan! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2019 by Steven Simkin

  • For love of the saxophone
For anyone interested in learning to play the saxophone, or musicians who have been playing for a while, Dylan Cramer’s gem of a book offers a solid approach to developing personal artistry on the saxophone, as well as some wonderful anecdotes about his teachers Sonny Criss and Phil Sobel . Cramer managed to organize and chronicle the complicated subject of saxophone playing and expression gleaned from his brilliant teachers and years of playing and teaching himself. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2019 by For2go

  • Practical info not found elsewhere
This book is a little philosophical (similar to Victor Wooten's "The Music Lesson") but it also contains real practical sax specific knowledge which you will instantly be able to apply to your own practice routine. I don't want to give any spoilers away in this review, but Cramer discusses what he calls the "Four Cornerstones" of sax mastery and they are NOT just philosphical musings. I've bought a lot of sax technique books (way too many actually!) but this book contains information I've never seen discussed anywhere else. It's a short book, quick to read but a lifetime to apply and master! Highly recommended! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2020 by jazmaan

  • Dylan's story about his time with Jazz legend Sonny Criss and master woodwind artist Phil Sobel
I really enjoyed Dylan's personal story about his time spent with Jazz legend Sonny Criss and master woodwind artist Phil Sobel. Sonny's advice & teaching takes up the first part of the book, and it's priceless. The remaining bulk of the book features his study with legendary West Coast woodwind artist and teacher Phil Sobel. For those familiar with Phil's teachings, this is a great & succinct reminder of the "method." For those who aren't, Dylan very clearly explains & breaks down Phil's magical methods that can lead to real saxophone artistry. And I love that he applies "the method" to "Jazz" music, using contemporary examples. A great read with lots of personal insights from Dylan. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2019 by kyle

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