Before You Begin
Saxophones
There are four basic types of saxophones: Alto, Tenor, Baritone and Soprano. The two most common are the Tenor and the Alto. Saxophones are fairly expensive to buy new, so you may want to hire one until you are sure you are going to persevere with it. Many music stores have good saxophones to rent, and some also have hire purchase plans.
If you are buying a second hand instrument, there are a couple of things to look out for. First make sure there are no dents, bends or cracks in the instrument, as this will affect the tuning.
Also check for leakage by playing over the range of the instrument to see whether you can get all the notes to sound properly. If possible, have a professional check out the instrument before you buy it.
Reeds
The reed is attached to the mouthpiece and vibrates to create a sound when you blow. Most reeds are made of cane, although it is possible to buy synthetic reeds. To begin with, you will probably need to use a fairly soft reed such as a 1 or 1½ . As your lips and facial muscles develop you will be able to play with harder reeds. The higher the number on the reed, the thicker it is, making it harder to play but also producing a stronger tone.
The choice of reeds is a fairly personal thing. When selecting a new reed, make sure it has no cracks around the tip and is not warped. These things can make it difficult or impossible to get a good sound.
Approach to Practice
From the beginning you should set yourself a goal. Many people learn saxophone because of a desire to play like their favorite artist (e.g., Maceo Parker), or to play a certain style of music (e.g., Rock, Blues, Funk, Jazz, etc.). Motivations such as these will help you to persevere through the more difficult sections of work. As your playing develops it will be important to adjust and update your goals.
It is important to have a correct approach to practice. You will benefit more from several short practices (e.g., 15-30 minutes per day) than one or two long sessions per week. This is especially so in the early stages, because of the basic nature of the material being studied and also because your lips and facial muscles are still developing.
If you want to become a great player you will obviously have to practice more as time goes on, but it is still better to work on new things a bit at a time. Get one small piece of information and learn it well before going on to the next topic. Make sure each new thing you learn is thoroughly worked into your playing. This way you won't forget it, and you can build on everything you learn. To be sure you develop a good sense of time, always practice with a metronome.
In a practice session you should divide your time evenly between the study of new material and the revision of past work. It is a common mistake for semi-advanced students to practice only the pieces they can already play well. Although this is more enjoyable, it is not a very satisfactory method of practice. You should also try to correct mistakes and experiment with new ideas. It is the author’s belief that the guidance of an experienced teacher will be an invaluable aid in your progress.
