"This book is a valuable addition to the pedagogical literature, and would be a welcome addition to the catalog of a major publisher to increase its availability on the textbook market."

David Demsey
July/August 2002 Saxophone Journal

"Michael Hester has written an excellent teaching and performance tool!...concise and very readable thoughts...an admirable job."

Dr. John Sampen, Saxophone Professor
Bowling Green State University

"Michael Hester's new book Saxophone Master Classes, is a great addition...greatly needed with fresh insights and understandable explanations. I will recommend it for all of my undergraduate and graduate students. Convincing evidence of the authors understanding and application can be found on his recently released CD recording titled An American Patchwork...Bravo on Both!"

Donald Sinta, Saxophone Professor
University of Michigan

"Saxophone Master Classes by Michael Hester is a thoughtful book that draws on the many years of teaching, playing and studying of the author. It is highly useful text that is well organized; the material is presented in a clear and concise form. I cannot imagine any young saxophonist not benefiting from this excellent addition to the library of saxophone pedagogy."

Dr. Eugene Rousseau, Retired Saxophone Professor
Indiana University

"Saxophone Master Classes...a new publication authored by Michael Eric Hester... is extremely well organized...presentations successfully address many facets related to each topic...revealing a thoughtful and creative educational philosophy...anyone aspiring to teach would benefit from exposure to these ideas....I enjoyed this book very much. "Many helpful descriptions and teaching techniques are found throughout...Dr. Hester's positive educational philosophy is reflected throughout this volume, a refreshing addition to such technical discussions. I recommend this volume to all teachers and students of the saxophone."

James Umble
The Saxophone Symposium

excerpts from the second edition:

Embouchure..."A saxophone tone which is "focused," demonstrates a clear, sharply defined, stable and uniform timbre throughout the entire range. When used describing an embouchure, the word "focus" refers to the use of facial muscles in the area of the mouth and lips. The discussion of focus with regard to saxophone tone, therefore, speaks not only to the sound itself, but also to the muscular structure of the embouchure which helps to make that sound possible."

 Air..."The extent to which the diaphragm is useful in normal breathing is irrefutable. However, production of the type of significant air pressure needed to speak loudly, yell, blow out the candles on a birthday cake or play the saxophone requires much less effort from the diaphragm muscle than one might think."

 Articulation..."Because of its hidden nature, many developmental problems are either misdiagnosed or avoided altogether. It is essential that a clear mental picture of articulation be developed by each wind musician. Learning to see where sight is not possible is the beginning of a concept and a clear concept of what occurs in the mouth is essential to the creation of a consistent articulation technique."

 Vibrato..."The use of vibrato should be emphasized more as a color than a technique, but technique is the stage on which any artistic expression must be presented."

 Altissimo..."An understanding of the potential for flexibility available within the oral cavity, with regards to air speed, must be made prior to having success with harmonic exercises and altissimo fingering charts."

 Practicing..."Practicing scales for scales sake becomes a waste of time soon after the key signatures have been learned. Each scale should become fertile ground from which all techniques can grow, rather than turning into a reflex action done as a matter of course and without thought."

 Diagnostic..."Teachers are not-so-different from medical doctors in how problems are approached and dealt with. A student or patient wishes to improve their current condition. The teacher or doctor observes symptoms of the most immediate problem. Possible causes are eliminated one-by-one, allowing a diagnosis to be made based upon the information at hand."

Saxophone Journal

Volume 24, Number 6