Beginner Sax Beginning Saxophone Player

vinzenzo1 · Nov 29, 2013

I am new to this site and to the Saxophone, I am older in lie, at age 51, Always wanted to play the Saxophone, Always,,, Anyway, I finally Rented a NEW Bundy II Student horn to see if in fact I will like it. I have take 4 lessons with a teacher in my area, and absolutely love it. I am not good YET but love it. Anyway, I am looking at getting some other resources online, not to replace the teacher but to enhance my playing, Eventually I would like to play in my church band etc. I just wanted to get some feedback on 2 things, 1. online Saxophone lessons etc? 2. input on looking at an intermediate Saxopohone down the road? Vinny

trimmy · Nov 29, 2013

Welcome to the cafe Vinny 🙂

You'll be at home on here, plenty of late starters (myself included 49)
1. No experience 2. Plenty to choose from but will let the more experienced inform you 🙂

vinzenzo1 · Nov 29, 2013

Thank you. I appreciate it. I think that I will be home here. Vinny

saxnik · Nov 29, 2013

Welcome.

From a teacher's point of view (and I may be doing myself out of work here!) online lessons are definitely second best to being in the room with a student. I've done a few for people who aren't able to find a local tutor since they're in remote locations, but it's been slower progress in most cases since webcams are 2D - not that great for seeing the whole picture for technique or problems. It's fine, but harder work for both parties I think.

As for intermediate saxes, I'm a bit out of touch now, but I don't think you can go too far wrong as long as you get a well-known branded horn and/or get a sax player/tutor to try it before you pay for it!

Good luck, keep us informed of your progress.

Nick

Andante cantabile · Nov 30, 2013

Your Bundy should serve you well for the immediate future. Once you are ready to change to something else, you will find that the choice is bewildering, and that just about all of the choices have their supporters and detractors, not necessarily split evenly. In the meatime, enjoy your saxophone.

vinzenzo1 · Nov 30, 2013

saxnik said:
Welcome.

From a teacher's point of view (and I may be doing myself out of work here!) online lessons are definitely second best to being in the room with a student. I've done a few for people who aren't able to find a local tutor since they're in remote locations, but it's been slower progress in most cases since webcams are 2D - not that great for seeing the whole picture for technique or problems. It's fine, but harder work for both parties I think.

As for intermediate saxes, I'm a bit out of touch now, but I don't think you can go too far wrong as long as you get a well-known branded horn and/or get a sax player/tutor to try it before you pay for it!

Good luck, keep us informed of your progress.

Nick

vinzenzo1 · Nov 30, 2013

Thank you, I know you are correct. I don't think an online lesson will do justice at all. I think its ok to view these lessons online to get a good idea, but not to take a lesson online ,,,, I love this instrument, as a teacher can you give me some ideas of beginners books that goes through lessons , for instance the book I am going through, is "Tune a day" book 1

vinzenzo1 · Nov 30, 2013

Andante cantabile said:
Your Bundy should serve you well for the immediate future. Once you are ready to change to something else, you will find that the choice is bewildering, and that just about all of the choices have their supporters and detractors, not necessarily split evenly. In the meatime, enjoy your saxophone.

vinzenzo1 · Nov 30, 2013

Thank you. Even if I rent it for 6 months, its 39.95 a month is not too bad to see if I am going to pursue playing,,, which I am. Vinny

ProfJames · Nov 30, 2013

Some shops will deduct what you have paid in rent from the price of the sax if you purchase it from them. Check out a deal Also look on YouTube for some digital lessons. There are plenty of them. And welcome!!

vinzenzo1 · Nov 30, 2013

ProfJames said:
Some shops will deduct what you have paid in rent from the price of the sax if you purchase it from them. Check out a deal Also look on YouTube for some digital lessons. There are plenty of them. And welcome!!

vinzenzo1 · Nov 30, 2013

I checked with him at the store the other day and he said to me " if you buy a beginner horn all your rental goes to that horn. But if I buy an intermediatenothing applies to it, I would not want to buy a beginners horn after playing for a bit????

ProfJames · Nov 30, 2013

Try some other woodwind shops. Have a look at some online and you will see various offers. Where do you live? Possibly other forum members would be able to recommend a good dealer near you.

vinzenzo1 · Nov 30, 2013

ProfJames said:
Try some other woodwind shops. Have a look at some online and you will see various offers. Where do you live? Possibly other forum members would be able to recommend a good dealer near you.

vinzenzo1 · Nov 30, 2013

I am in the Charlotte nc area, I will try to get to some today

saxnik · Dec 2, 2013

Your 'beginner' horn should see you right for two or three years - intermediates are fine for the next five, then you'll need a pro model if you're still progressing at the same rate!

Good tutor books I've used successfully:
Raphael Ravenscroft - The Complete Saxophone Player (series or omnibus)
John O'Neill - Jazz Method for Saxophone
Learn as you Play (more classical) - Peter Wastall

Another I quite like is Jean-Marie Londeix's 'Playing the Saxophone' - very good technical exercises but a bit heavy for teaching yourself.

Good luck!

Nick

vinzenzo1 · Dec 2, 2013

Thanks for the site, great information and a lot of information

ProfJames · Dec 3, 2013

Thank you Vinzenzo! The internet is wonderful!!! And I live in Berkshire, England..!!!! take some time to look around yourself on the internet and make sure you get a good deal. Best of luck.

ProfJames · Dec 3, 2013

This is a starter/intermediate horn. Offer him $300. I have one of these and they are very very good!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301029198557?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

photoman · Dec 3, 2013

Hi Vinny

Welcome to a great forum. I'm also a very late starter and bought my first sax in August, on my 58th birthday.

The help I'm getting on this forum has been amazing, I would advise you to ask as many questions as you need to.

I have at least 6 books and what you get depends on what music want to play and if you can read music yet. John O'Niels Improvising Jazz is a great book and good if you need a basic grounding in music theory.

Nick Bestons improvising blues is my favourite but does require some understanding of 'the dots'.

I have looked at a lot of online teaching (and I make most of my living from online teaching of photography). I would recommend Nigel McGills 'Sax School (www.mcgillmusic.com). There are dozens of video lessons and PPF files, broken down into categories. Well worth the £5 per month in my view.

Finding a good teacher is essential too.

Good luck and enjoy!

Stephen