Things You'll Need:
- Good, working saxophone
- Reeds
- Neckstrap
- Method book
- Music stand
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Step 1
Check with your child's teacher about what instrument may be appropriate for your child. Interest is important, and with enough work, most students will be successful on an instrument they are interested in. That said, it's easier to maintain interest when success comes more easily, and most people are more physically suited to certain wind instruments. Some music stores can also help you with this if you're going it alone.
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Step 2
Acquire a good, working instrument. Ebay is not recommended. Getting a good quality instrument will make the process of learning much less frustrating. Also worth noting here--none of the chain discount or department stores carry quality instruments.
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Step 3
Acquired a quality instrument from a reputable music store. Your best bet is a music store with an in-house repair shop; you are most likely to get an instrument in good working condition. Stores that send their repairs out are slower and their stock is less likely to be well-adjusted. You may choose to rent or purchase an instrument. If you are renting, look for a rental program that offers repairs, mouthpiece replacement (if you drop it, it will shatter or chip), and will apply your rental towards purchase. If you choose to purchase, inquire about repair programs. Some stores will throw in a year with purchase.
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Step 4
Get a method book. If you are starting as part of a school group or working with a private teacher, ask what book to get. Essential Elements works fine for learning with a full band, in private lessons or on your own. It's laid out for late elementary students (as most method books are), so adults teaching themselves won't have trouble figuring it out. If you choose to look for a different book, look for extra features. A CD accompaniment is extremely helpful--Essential Elements doesn't include the whole book on the CD; others may. Essential Elements includes a DVD, which is particularly nice if you are teaching yourself--it will show you how to put the instrument together and position it. A newer feature that is revolutionizing the way musicians practice is SmartMusic. Essential Elements comes with a trial of this amazing software; other books are also compatible with it. SmartMusic will accompany you (the whole book is included here), show you fingerings, and assess your performance. Anyone teaching himself should have SmartMusic.
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Step 5
Buy reeds while you're at the music store. Reeds come in different strengths--2.5 is a good place to start. Reeds are also available in a range of prices. Rico are fine for beginners, but as you grow as a musician, you'll want to try other (probably pricier) brands. Most people eventually find that one brand works best for them. You'll need several reeds--they break and chip, and if they don't, they just wear down. You can minimize this wear and tear in a number of ways--adjust your reed on the mouthpiece gently from the sides or the butt (the fatter, shiny part), never the tip (the thinnest, rounded part), take your reed off when you're done playing. Wipe your reed off with two fingers, butt to tip. Invest in a reed case. The LaVoz plastic ones are just fine, and it's harder to jam the reed too far in or chip the tip on these than it is with the reed cases the reeds come in (although these are still better than nothing).
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Step 6
Consider finding a private teacher if you or your child is not learning in a school band. Wind instruments are not easy to learn all on your own.
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Step 7
Follow the instructions in your book to put together your instrument.
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Step 8
Put your reed on very carefully--push the ligature (the metal part that holds on the reed) up with your thumb, don't take it off entirely. Slide the reed in butt (fat, shiny) end first. The reed should line up with the tip of the mouthpiece. Try to adjust from the sides or butt and not from the tip--the tip is very fragile.
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Step 9
Practice playing long tones as the book shows you new notes.
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Step 10
Play along with the CD to make sure you are playing the correct pitches.
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Step 11
Have fun practicing!
