How to Choose an Alto Saxophone

The time comes in every student's life when he has to decide whether to take music lessons in school. Parents must help their children discern which instrument is the right fit, and the alto saxophone is an extremely popular choice. Choosing an alto saxophone can be confusing, especially if parents are inexperienced in music. The following steps can help make the purchase much easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Begin with a rental program. Before making the commitment and investment, call the instrument company that deals with your school and ask if they offer a rental program. This way, you'll know if your child plans on taking lessons and practice seriously before you pay for an alto saxophone.
2. Borrow an alto saxophone from a friend. When you begin the process of choosing a sax, borrowing from a friend who has a sax that she no longer uses can give you a better idea of what manufacturer you prefer.
3. Tap into your local musical resources. Before you choose an alto saxophone, ask the advice of the school's music teacher, your local music store or a private music teacher. If a particular name or brand keeps popping up, that's usually a good place to start looking.
4. Start with a student saxophone. Alto saxophones typically fall into three categories: student, intermediate and professional. The student saxophone is a great choice for anyone starting out because of its affordability.
5. Invest in a used saxophone. If you'd rather not worry about monthly payments or caring for someone else's instrument, then consider buying a used alto sax that's in good condition. With a minimal investment, you can own the sax and buy a new instrument after deciding if you like playing and if you like the brand.
6. Consider the price. Although it's tempting to buy a cheaper saxophone, the more expensive the instrument, the better the quality. You may want to buy a cheaper model especially when just beginning, but keep in mind that you might end up spending more money to make the instrument playable.
7. Remember the accessories. When you take up the alto saxophone, you'll need to buy reeds, a neck strap and a music stand. After spending the time to choose just the right sax, it's imperative to have the right accessories.