Is it hard to learn the Saxophone?
A common question, “how hard is it to learn the saxophone?” A quick answer, “it is no harder than any other instrument” In fact, it is one of the easier instruments to learn. If you are you considering saxophone lessons, a good question is, “what makes the saxophone unique? At some point, most people have considered playing an instrument so If you envision a jazz club, 50’s rock contemporary bands, or even an orchestra, the saxophone offers a distinctively smooth sound. It’s like velvet to the ears.
Looking for Saxophone Lessons?
Fundamental Music Instruction students learn from our very talented and professional saxophone teachers. We offer saxophone lessons for beginners through advanced. Visit Us to read more about our music teachers and what makes them unique.
There are several ways for music students can enroll in saxophone lessons. Check our list of select schools. For more flexible scheduling, students can take lessons online and learn from the comfort and safety of your own home! Learn more about at school and online music lessons FMI Courses. In addition, FMI teaches piano, flute, trumpet, guitar, and more. Visit our website for a Demonstration of various instruments.
Learn all about the Saxophone and it’s types and sizes.
The saxophone is a relatively recent invention. Invented in Belgium,it came into being during the early 1840s. It was invented by Adolph Sax to have qualities of both brass and woodwind instruments. Because the saxophone shares qualities from these two instrument families, it has a great deal of versatility and in turn, became instantly popular.
So whether you want to learn to play Swing music, or become the next John Coltrane, the first thing you will need is a qualified teacher. Learn more about each teacher at Fundamental Music Instruction HERE.
Here are some of the more interesting aspects of the saxophone. You may find these useful as you get started with saxophone lessons.
Anatomy of a Saxophone
Saxophone Lessons for Beginners
The saxophone is made of 4 main parts:
The mouthpiece
The neck
The body
The bell
A Saxophone looks like a brass instrument (it is made of brass), but it is a woodwind instrument since it has the basic key system of woodwinds and produces its sound through the use of a reed.
An interesting fact to consider when choosing a saxophone is that the bigger the body, the lower the sound.
There are Four Saxophone Sizes
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Baritone
Of these, the two sizes students initially begin playing are
The alto sax – which has a bright, higher-pitched sound
The tenor sax – which has a fuller, deeper sound
Alto and tenor sax play the exact same range of notes. This means their lowest and highest notes are the same.The difference is their pitch. The alto is an Eb instrument, while the tenor is a Bb instrument. Students will learn more about this during saxophone lessons or beginners.
Some people say the alto’s pitch is similar to a female voice, whereas the tenor’s pitch is similar to the male voice.
The Alto Saxophone
Saxophones are undoubtedly a bit bulkier than other woodwinds. This is important when choosing a saxophone size. Most young learners begin with the alto saxophone during their study. The alto is light enough for a student in 3rd or 4th grade to handle using the neck strap that comes with the instrument.
The alto does not require a great deal of effort to get a sound. Much of the work at the beginning is controlling the sound into a pleasing tone.
The alto is the most versatile and can be heard in all music styles, from jazz and classical music to rock and pop.
The Tenor Saxophone
The tenor produces a lower and deeper sound. Because it is larger, it requires more air to be played and can be challenging for beginners.
Tenor saxophone is the next step for many students. Sometimes this is due to the tone quality of the tenor and sometimes a student simply needs to grow a little before playing it. Since each of the saxophone instrument has its own unique quality, students develop a preference once they acquire enough experience.
The Soprano Saxophone
The soprano sax is more challenging to control and not commonly heard in a wide range of musical styles. For many reasons, it is not usually a musician’s primary instrument but rather a secondary choice.
The Baritone Saxophone
The Baritone is a low pitched saxophone. Because of it’s size, most student’s do not choose this instrument to begin their studies. It becomes a next step from the Alto or Tenor. Even though it is heavier, it is relatively easy to keep playing in tune, unlike the soprano. Most musicians agree that it is no more difficult to play than the tenor.
Many musical styles use the saxophone because it is extremely versatile and has a unique tone quality. For this reason, it is a popular choice. While there are 6-8 sizes of saxophones, including the four we mentioned above, the most common choice for beginners’ is the alto, followed by the tenor saxophone. Once a student gains experience with consistent saxophone lessons for beginners, there are many saxophone choices and sizes a music student can add to their repertoire.
Saxophone Lessons for all Levels
Fundamental Music Instruction Offers Lessons for any level, and Highly Qualified Music Teachers are Ready to Start This Journey with You.
Fundamental Music Instruction is for everyone! Learn more about the wide variety of music classes available through Fundamental Music Instruction FMI Courses. We would love to hear from you about your experiences with online music class or answer any questions you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected], call us at 908-244-4943, or sign up for a free At-school or online music lesson. We can’t wait to fill your world with music because, without music, our minds would be quiet. 
