Dr. Robert Faub
Classical Saxophone Mastery
World-class saxophone instruction without the Music School
Classical Saxophone Mastery
Build Your Foundations
“We’ve taken the teaching saxophone majors get at fine music schools and put it in a video course format that anyone can benefit from.“
– Jay Metcalf
What You Get in this course
- Online Video Course with 25 lessons from Dr. Robert Faub
- PDF Sheet Music Downloads for All Saxophones and Piano Accompaniment
- Lifetime Access on the Better Sax Members Site.
- Bonus 1hr Masterclass
- 38 Audio Demonstration and Backing Tracks at various tempos
- Better Sax Members Only Forum Access.
Become a Stronger Saxophonist
- Build Excellent Habits
- Learn to Practice Efficiently
- Develop Tone and Phrasing Skills
- Strengthen Musicality and Expressiveness
- Conquer Musical Challenges
Bob Faub’s brilliant Classical Saxophone Mastery course is like going back to music school for me, but I’m older, wiser and much better prepared to absorb the knowledge.
The compositions are not only beautiful and fun to play, but they are conceived perfectly for saxophone students by a world-class professor. It’s the perfect level of challenge and blend of classical music styles.
The concepts taught throughout this course are the same that helped me develop my saxophone playing and musical skills over the past 30 years. Working through Bob’s video lessons and playing his wonderful pieces has reinvigorated my love of classical saxophone.
– Jay Metcalf
Online Video Course
25 Beautifully presented video lessons covering style, history, musical forms and all the fundamentals of saxophone playing. Special focus is put on the saxophone “problem areas” that need the most attention.
PDF Sheet Music
All of the pieces in Volume 1 of Classical Saxophone Mastery are original compositions by Dr. Robert Faub. He has provided parts for alto and tenor saxophone as well as piano accompaniment. There are even full scores included for those who wish to perform these for auditions and competitions.
Audio Recordings
38 high quality audio tracks that include each piece played with and without accompaniment. There’s piano accompaniment backing tracks at performance and rehearsal (slower) tempos.
Look Inside This Course
Watch the short course walk-through video below.
A note from your professor
I suspect every instrumental instructor has had the idea of writing their own instruction book. We all have our own ways of teaching particular concepts, a sense of the best order to introduce new techniques, and a certain dissatisfaction with existing pedagogical materials. I have often experienced the frustration of the lack of well-written, approachable music for the beginning to intermediate-level classical saxophonist.
When I approached Jay with the idea of writing a saxophone training manual, he came back with a better idea – a set of etudes suitable for the classically-oriented Better Sax subscriber. After a discussion or two regarding format and content, the composer-saxophonist in me was quickly inspired. In a matter of two months this set of etudes (and a second volume for future publication) were completed and ready to be recorded.
The goal of this music is above all to be fun to learn and to play. As is the nature of an “étude” (translation – “study piece”), each work should be relatively short, clear in structure, presenting 2-3 specific technical/musical challenges that will aid in the training of the player in both their mastery of the instrument and their musical development. Each work is inspired by a specific composition, (saxophone or otherwise), style period or genre I believe essential to artistic development. Although the etudes are training pieces, they may certainly be suitable for performance in a variety of settings.
It is my sincere hope that you find pleasure in learning and performing this music and that you benefit from the process of working through each technical and musical challenge. May this music help you along your journey towards improvement, and ultimately, to artistry.
-Bob Faub
Praise for Bob Faub's Teaching...
It’s very exciting that Jay and Bob have collaborated on the Better Sax Classical Mastery Program. I’m thrilled to have gotten a sneak peek at this excellent online course for classical saxophonists of all ages looking to improve! It offers a structured approach and covers fundamentals; Tone production, technique, and musicality are all explained in ways that are easy to understand. Additionally, the selection of original classically- inspired repertoire is thoughtfully composed, and targets specific issues that are encountered by saxophonists of all skill levels.
Bob’s thoughtful videos offer the player an opportunity to hear and see a professional in action. While the background information and music theory discussed enhances the understanding of these particular pieces, everything shared will help saxophonists to approach standard repertoire a bit more thoughtfully.
Andrew Stoker
Saxophonist/Educator
Bob Faub is a truly first-rate musician who has put his lifetime of experience and expertise as a music educator into this terrific course! Highly recommend!
Susan Fancher
Professor of Saxophone - Duke University
Bob Faub’s Classical Saxophone Mastery series for Better Sax is a fantastic way to learn the fundamentals needed to improve as a saxophonist. The course is expertly organized, with several different topics addressed in great detail. I highly recommend it! Congratulations Dr. Faub and BetterSax!
Will Campbell
Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone at UNC Charlotte
The Better Sax Classical Mastery Program is an outstanding resource for intermediate saxophonists who are ready to build a strong foundation in classical playing. Dr. Faub’s clear, encouraging instruction makes essential concepts like tone production, technique, and musicality accessible and easy to understand. What sets this course apart is its ability to reach non-traditional students—those who may not have access to private lessons—by providing structured, high-quality guidance in an online format. The thoughtfully composed original repertoire is both musically engaging and designed to target common challenges, making this program a truly valuable tool for developing saxophonists.
Jennifer Turpen
Professor of Music at the University of Wyoming
What Our Members Say...
I purchased and am working my way through the Classical Saxophone Mastery Course. Highly recommended! The etudes are fun to play and what is really valuable is having the gorgeous tone of the professor to emulate.
Gary D.
BetterSax Member
This course is brilliant! You can dip in and out forever with Jays membership system.
Trevor D.
BetterSax Member
I think this is a great little course. Plenty of challenge, but accessible. I count myself as a saxophone beginner, though an experienced piano and flute player, so musical knowledge isn't an issue. Very well pitched and loads in each piece to work on at a micro level, as well as lovely pieces with loads of supporting sound and PDF files. Using it with my alto, but going to give it a try on my soprano sax. Thank you.
Elizabeth C.
BetterSax Member
Thank you for the inquiry. I am very much enjoying the course. With my focus on Paul Desmond, I tend to rely on your material for expanding general knowledge rather than specific application. I find with this course, since Paul Desmond came from a classical background and tended to apply it to jazz more than any other well known alto player, that much of the essence of this course had direct application for the progress I am seeking.
Edmund B.
BetterSax Member
"I joined BetterSax early in the pandemic and that changed my sax life. Basically, I began to enjoy playing and looked forward to practicing every day."
Mark D.
BetterSax Member
I can attest you will not be sorry if you take this course. I have learned a lot and gained some much needed confidence.
Laura L.
BetterSax Member
All online course purchases on BetterSax.com are risk free within 30 days of purchase. If you don’t learn and benefit from our courses, we don’t want your money. Because we put so much time and work into our products, most customers just want to enroll in more. However, if you find that the content is not right for you, just get in touch to request a no hassle, no questions asked refund.
Take Your Playing to the Next Level
QUESTIONS?
You should begin by watching these free videos and by signing up for my free Play Sax by Ear Crash Course. Once you have completed that material, you you will be ready to take my Pentatonic Foundation Course.
Yes! The videos can be viewed on any device as long as you are connected to the internet. They are streamed from a private server in High Definition and can be watched an unlimited number of times. The PDF can be downloaded for offline use.
No. There is not yet a DVD version of this course.
No. Once you are enrolled, you have lifetime access. There will be no recurring fees or renewal fees. Pay once, that’s it.
As soon as your purchase is completed you will receive a confirmation email. Please check junk and spam folders for this if you don’t see it right away. Add jay@bettersax.com to your contact list, to ensure delivery of all important emails.
Follow the instructions in this email to login to the BetterSax Members Area where you will find your courses waiting for you.
Yes. 30 days trial, 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If you don’t find that the Course has helped you improve as a sax player, just send us a message and we will refund your entire purchase price no questions asked (If you opt for the physical print version of the book, this portion of your purchase is non-refundable).
No, this course is for all instruments. The demonstrations are all done on alto saxophone, but the student can play all of the content on any instrument.
Absolutely yes! The material in this course can be played on any instrument.
