Saxophone beginners First lesson

[Tasjii]

This morning I had my very first saxophone lesson. I think it went well, my tutor was very positive and encouraging. He made me feel at ease. We played a few tunes together and he encouraged me to play loud (with more confidence), to count myself in not taking a breath till the count of 4, then start playing, he got me to read music, not by naming the notes but by looking at the flow of the written music. He also got me to tongue each note which was something I have been struggling with, but I got it by the end of the lesson. We were working from a book called "A new tune a day" and played a little duet. In one hour we got to and finished the third lesson in the book. He was very pleased with the progress and told me to work through the book at my own pace and if I get to a bit I am not sure off we can go through that at our next lesson. He said it just takes practice, to break things down first into the individual bars and then once I get the hang of those, to put it all together until I can play the whole phrase etc. He wants me to tongue each note so I really get a feel for it. I really enjoyed the lesson and feel I got a lot out of it. Booked my next lesson for 2 weeks time. I have got lots to work on now and in a more structured way.

 

[StageFright]

Sounds as if you did quite well for a first lesson. Congratulations. Had you been playing prior to this?

 

[Tasjii]

Sounds as if you did quite well for a first lesson. Congratulations. Had you been playing prior to this?

I got my sax about 2 weeks ago and had taught myself the first few notes. So had been noodling around with those. At least I knew how to get a note to come out of the sax before going to my first lesson.

 

[MandyH]

...... At least I knew how to get a note to come out of the sax before going to my first lesson.

That's good.
I had one teacher for 6 lessons, and still couldn't get a note out consistently.
My 2nd teacher (who I moved onto 8 years and 5 months ago) spent a few minutes explaining how to play, what my mouth needed to do etc, and we've never looked back.
I still have a lesson every week.

She had me standing up against a wall in the first lesson, too, mind!
To get the sax up high enough on the neck strap!

 

[Jeanette]

Well done, you are going to have so much fun and probably a little frustration, enjoy 🙂

Jx

 

[Tasjii]

That's good.
I had one teacher for 6 lessons, and still couldn't get a note out consistently.
My 2nd teacher (who I moved onto 8 years and 5 months ago) spent a few minutes explaining how to play, what my mouth needed to do etc, and we've never looked back.
I still have a lesson every week.

She had me standing up against a wall in the first lesson, too, mind!
To get the sax up high enough on the neck strap!

I had a problem with the sax strap, I have a standard neck strap atm. It started getting uncomfortable during the lesson, so he lent me one of his. Problem was it was a little long. So I spend the last bit of the lesson constantly adjusting the strap as it kept slipping down. I hoping to I have solved the problem with my sax strap as I have made a pad from some left over memory foam and the material from an old Tshirt. I have attached that to the strap. I will give it a whirl later when I do my practice.

 

[Tasjii]

Well done, you are going to have so much fun and probably a little frustration, enjoy 🙂

Jx

Thanks, I am so pleased that I have mastered the articulation now. Had been trying to get it on my own but just couldn't figure it out. I would try and tongue the reed to stop the note but then couldn't get it to sound again. Turns out I was gripping with my jaw closing the reed against the mouth piece. Now I know I am doing it I can stop myself from doing it.

 

[nigeld]

It's worth investing in a comfortable strap. You are going to spend many hours with it round your neck.

Everyone has their favourite brand. I mostly use a Rico padded strap for alto and a Saxholder for the tenor.

 

[Colin the Bear]

These are very comfy and will accommodate soprano, alto, tenor and baritone.

Soprano Sax Shoulder Strap Harness Cushion Padded Replacement High Quality | eBay

 

[Tasjii]

It's worth investing in a comfortable strap. You are going to spend many hours with it round your neck.

Everyone has their favourite brand. I mostly use a Rico padded strap for alto and a Saxholder for the tenor.

A more comfortable strap and a sax holder are on my wish list. I have a birthday coming up in a few months so thought I could drop hints and get them for my birthday. My home made pad is just a stop gap solution.

 

[Tasjii]

These are very comfy and will accommodate soprano, alto, tenor and baritone.

Soprano Sax Shoulder Strap Harness Cushion Padded Replacement High Quality | eBay

Thanks, wow they really break the bank don't they these padded sax straps 😉

 

[MandyH]

For my Alto, I eventually had a Cebulla strap made to measure.
I found the NeoTech padded strap was just a bit too long, so even at its shortest, the sax didn't reach my mouth correctly, yet I was being choked by the strap.
Initially, I unpicked the stitching at one end of the strap and adjusted, using a nappy pin, until comfortable, then I cut off the excess and sewed the strap back together.
Once the guys & gals on here talked about Johann at Cebulla, I contacted him and asked for exactly the length that I had created, which he made for me.
It's still going strong, and works well for my Alto.

 

[nigeld]

These are very comfy and will accommodate soprano, alto, tenor and baritone.

Soprano Sax Shoulder Strap Harness Cushion Padded Replacement High Quality | eBay

Thanks, wow they really break the bank don't they these padded sax straps 😉

@Colin the Bear is famous for his "no-expense-spared" approach to saxophone playing.

 

[Tenor Viol]

A standard RICO strap is OK for me for alto, but not for tenor - too much weight on the nape of the neck.
Cebulla works well for me, I also have a Jazzlab holder too

 

[Colin the Bear]

Back in the day, before memory foam was thought of, or perhaps before the name was thought of and the marketing blurb started, a folded "Terry" tea towel, strategically placed under the webbing strap was all that was needed. However it was best to use a white towel if your shirt was white.

I do think some of the prices charged for a sling are ridiculous. It's not rocket science.

 

[kevgermany]

Cebulla for alto/sop, saxholder for tenor/Bari.

 

[saxyjt]

I bought mine here.

They have a variety of styles, are very comfortable and solid too.

 

[Tasjii]

I bought mine here.

They have a variety of styles, are very comfortable and solid too.

Thanks I had a look at these and they do look fab but with them having to come from the USA they are quoting a delivery charge which is more than the actual strap! I think I will keep looking and see if I can get them from the UK instead.

 

[Tasjii]

Just thought I would give you all another update on how I am getting on with the actual playing of the sax. I have continued to work through the book my teacher had me follow during our lesson. I have gone back to the second lesson in the book and worked my way through to lesson 5 over the last few days. The book that I am working through "a new tune a day for alto sax" comes with a cd which has the backing tracks for all the tunes and songs in the book. Unfortunately, it is so damaged that none of my cd players will recognise it is a disk! So I am having to practice without the backing tracks. So a lot of the time I am not sure whether I am attempting to play the pieces at the right speed. I have a metronome app on my mobile which I use but not knowing the speed each song needs to be played at it's guess work on my part. I bought the book second hand. Should have checked the disk before I parted with my money...

I still feel I am getting better, when i attempted "When the Saints" it sounded vaguely familiar. The written music is starting to make a bit more sense to me and today I managed a practice session of just under an hour before my mouth got too sore. Can't wait for those embouchure muscles to develop more so it gets easier.

 

[Justin Chune]

I've used a Neotech on my tenor for years and never had a problem.. Try one.