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Considerations For Those Looking to Play The Saxophone
There is the constant expense of reeds with the instrument.
The saxophone has a lot of keys and can be complicated to play.
The saxophone requires a variety of tongue positions to be played varying from flat to arched very high. This is known as voicing.
The instrument is usually not too difficult to get the first sounds on. However, it is extremely challenging to get good at playing. You need to be a very detail-oriented person to become a top-notch player; this means you must be consistent with practicing.
Most commonly, students struggle to control their dynamics on their instrument when starting off (how loud they can get or how soft).
This instrument is highly competitive. It can be very difficult when it comes to auditions, regardless of age (regional, state, honor band, college acceptance, placement, and professional auditions).
The saxophone is used heavily in jazz music.
It is important for the student to realize that there are two schools of playing when it comes to saxophone. There is jazz and there is classical. Each has a different sound and often uses different equipment (instruments, necks, reeds). In a concert band setting, you will be striving for a classical sound. In a jazz band, you will strive for a jazz sound. It is important to be able to hear the difference between the two.
The saxophone is the newest wind instrument commonly used in the band world. The reason why it is not commonly seen in orchestras is because it was not invented until the mid-1800s. By that time, the standard orchestra instrumentation was established. Occasionally, it is used in orchestras, such as in much of the music of George Gershwin.
Ultimately, students who work hard, practice consistently, and are driven to better themselves will likely have the greatest success no matter the instrument.
Considerations When Buying A Saxophone
Most students start on alto saxophone. It is pitched in the key of Eb.
Beginner – The beginning saxophone is built to get a fundamental sound and be a bit more durable while students are learning to handle the instrument. The keys are also sometimes designed to between suit a younger player. It is mostly machine made, consists of thinner body materials, and lower quality materials, such as plastic in the keys.
Intermediate – The intermediate saxophone usually consists of higher quality materials, more hand made parts, more attention to the movability of the keys, and thicker metal. More detail is put into quality, which will result in a better sound, feel, and intonation (tuning from note to note).
Professional – The professional saxophone is mostly to entirely handmade, made of high-quality materials, has a larger bore size, has thicker metal, and silver and gold plating is often used. Often, these saxophones also have engraving. These saxophones are built to have a great tone and good intonation (tuning from note to note).
Simply put, as you progress from beginner to intermediate to advanced, the instruments are made of higher quality materials, progress from primarily being machine made to handmade, slightly larger bore size (tubing), better tuning from note to note, and better resonance. Beginning instruments are built more to get a basic sound and stand through durability so that a musician can learn to take care of it. Intermediate and advanced instruments are more focused on the sound of the instrument.
If you do not know what these differences are or know if they would be valuable to you, consult a professional. I am not claiming to be a professional, but you could contact me as well. A simple google search can also inform you of the basics.
The Soprano Saxophone
The soprano sax is a high-pitched saxophone that is pitched in the key of Bb. It is sometimes used in chamber music, jazz band, and concert band. It is not as common in use as the alto, tenor, or baritone sax.
This saxophone often has major intonation issues, especially if it is a lower quality soprano. It usually is only performed well by someone who has developed solid fundamentals and voicing for instruments in the saxophone family.
The Tenor Saxophone
The tenor saxophone is the second most common saxophone in the saxophone family. It is pitched in the key of Bb. It is commonly used in chamber music, concert bands, and jazz bands.
The Baritone Saxophone
The baritone sax is a member of the saxophone family that is commonly used in chamber music, concert bands, and jazz bands. It has a low sound and is in the pitch of Eb.
The Bass Saxophone
The bass saxophone is occasionally used in the concert band and jazz band worlds. It has a low sound and is a rather long instrument. It is pitched in the key of Bb.
Other saxophones that appear occasionally are the contrabass saxophone, subcontrabass saxophone, and tubax.
Reeds and Ligatures
Reeds are pieces of cane that are attached to the instrument by using a device known as a ligature.
When air is blown across the reed, it vibrates creating the sound. This is the entire tone production of the instrument.
Quality of reeds is of the absolute most importance. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for.
Students have to learn to take care of reeds to minimize the cost.
Synthetic Reeds – Recently, manufactures have begun to make synthetic reeds. While these reeds usually do not have the same tone quality, they often provide greater projection and are more durable. They tend to work better for marching band.
Ligatures – Ligatures can be made of metal, cloth, string, leather, and other materials. They are important, as they resonate along with the reed. Screws on ligatures are sometimes made to be on the same side as the reed and other times on the opposite side of the reed.
Ligatures are made to be right-handed, so remember that the screws will always go to the right.
Most students will begin on a 2.5 hardness reed and move to a 3 as they develop proper air support. On occasion, a player will move to a 3.5.
There is a common misconception that as one gets better at the instrument, one will begin to play on harder reeds. This is not true. There are some professional players that play on softer reeds. Also, temperature, humidity, the use of the reed, and the age of the reed can have a factor on the stiffness of the reed. In addition, one hardness for one reed maker is not the same hardness for another. No two reeds are the same even with the same reed maker. There are too many factors to try to use reeds as a comparison of difficulty.
Recommended Reed Brands
Rico – Recommended for Beginners
Vandoren
D’Addario
Legere - Synthetic
Recommended Ligature Brands
Vandoren
Rovner
Silverstein
Recommended Mouthpieces
Vandoren AL3 – Alto Saxophone
Vandoren TL3 – Tenor Saxophone
Selmer *C
Recommended Brand of Instrument
Yamaha
Recommended Listening – Classical Saxophone
Timothy McAllister
Sigurd Raschèr
Amy Dickson
Nobuya Sugawa
Donald Sinta
Emily Loboda
Jess Gillam
Yasuto Tanaka
Marcel Mule
John Sampen
Chien-Kwan Lin
Eugene Rousseau
Otis Murphy
Masataka Hirano
John Harle
Clifford Leaman
Erin Royer
Arno Bornkamp
Recommended Listening – Jazz Saxophone
Sonny Rollins
Charlie Parker
Bradford Marsalis
Grover Washington Jr.
John Coltrane
Stan Getz
Jeff Coffin
Some Recommended Method/Technique/Etude/Collection Books
Rubank Elementary Method for Saxophone
The Rubank Intermediate Method for Saxophone
The Rubank Advanced Method for Saxophone
Voxman – Concert and Contest Colection
Voxman – Selected Studies
Ferling – 48 Famous Studies
Hite – Melodious and Progressive Studies
Klose – 25 Daily Exercises
Lacour – 28 Studies
Small – 27 Melodious and Rhythmical Exercises
DeVille – Universal Method
Salviani – Studeis for Saxophone
Rossari - 53 Melodious Etudes
Rasher – Top Tones for Saxophone
Saxophone Literature/Books
Kochnitzky - Adolphe Sax & His Saxophone
Ingham - The Cambridge Companion to the Saxophone
Birchard - The Art of Saxophone Playing
Cottrell – The Saxophone
Harvey- Saxophone
Weisberg – The Art of Wind Playing
Some Classical Solo Literature
Creston – Sonata
Mackey – Concerto
Ibert – Concertino da Camera
Dahl – Concerto
Maslanka – Concerto
Decruck – Sonata
Debussy - Rhapsody
Adams – Concerto
Anderson – Sonata
Bennett - Concerto
Dubious - Concerto
Glazunov – Concerto
Bozza - Aria
Recommended Stores For Instruments and Equipment
Shop Local – Just be sure you get a good brand
Recommended Websites
Recommended Apps
Bandmate Chromatic Tuner
Tonal Energy Tuner
Sight Reading Factory
Smart Music
Intunator
StaffWars
Tunable
Master Ear Training
Theory Lessons
Tenuto
APS Trainer
tuneUp
Must Have Accessories
Case
Neck Strap – You must have for stabilization. They make all kinds with a lot of cushion.
Reed Case
Cleaning Cloth/Swab
Cork Grease – Only use on the cork
Tuner/Metronome - app or physical device
Music Stand
Thumb Rest – These can get pretty nice. Check Amazon
Pencil
Additional Possible Accessories
Breath Builder
Instrument Stand
Korg-TM 60 with clip on attachment
Container for Soaking Reeds
Mouthpiece Cushions
YouTube Channels to Follow
Instagram Accounts to Follow
The Saxophone Magazine - @saxomusic
Nicki Roman - @saxophonenicki
Eli Bennett - @elibennettmusic
Grace Kelly - @gkellymusic
Jess Gillam - @jessgillamsax
Derek Brown - @beatboxsax
@sax.co.uk
Leo P - @leopfollowme
Grace Juliet - @gracejuliet.saxophone
Jess - @sax.jess
Nicki Roman - @saxophonenicki
Amy Dickson - @amydickson
Charlie Parker - @charliebirdparkerofficial
Miku Yonezawa – @mikuyonezawa0504
Kanae - @kanaeppichu
Classical Saxophone Project - @classicalsaxophoneproject
Légère Reeds - @legerereeds
Vandoren - @candorenusa