Saxophone beginners New to saxworld

[Rubenagoras]

Hi everyone,

I am so beginner that I have not saxophone yet 🙂 I have always been amazed by saxophone sound and for a long time I have been thinking of start learning. I saw there is an option that is "hire a sax" and probably i will start by that. I would appreciate any advice as I am bit lost at the moment. For start Id like someone to guide/teach me but I checked and prices are so elevated for an hour of teaching session, any recommendation about this? So bad idea start learning without a teacher? Well thanks in advance and I hope this is first of many future chats about sax 🙂

 

[kevgermany]

Hi. Welcome.

First thing is to decide which sax to start with... Tenor, alto, or maybe sop or baritone. Which sax players do you really like, which type do they play? Or maybe it's some tracks with saxes you've heard.

Teachers... They have to make a living and they're worth their weight in gold. Even if it's only for a few weeks/months, it'll make a huge difference to your progress now and in the future. And... You'll have the benefit of knowing if problems are you, or the instrument and help sorting out problems.

Good luck.

 

[Targa]

Welcome to the café.
While having a teacher might be considered better you can manage without one if you get a good book and have the patience and determination to teach yourself.
I think I read that @Pete Thomas didn't have lessons for two years (?).

 

[nigeld]

Welcome to the cafe.

If you have a fairly local music shop, why not pop in and try some saxes? Don't plan to buy anything on your first visit - just try holding and blowing an alto and a tenor sax to see if they feel good and whether one of them seems friendlier than the other. If you are lucky, you may be able to honk out a few notes, which is exhilarating. It sounds intimidating, but don't worry - the assistants will be used to beginners - nobody is expecting you to pick up a sax and play it like a pro. My experience with music shops has been that the staff are players themselves and that they like to help and encourage others.

There are good inexpensive saxes on the market, but don't buy a really cheap sax unless you know what you are doing or you have a friend who can check it over for you. If it's cheap, it's cheap for a reason.

Hiring a sax is a good option at the start, especially if you are not absolutely sure whether the sax is for you.

I think a teacher is really valuable at the beginning.

 

[Tenor Viol]

Hi - not sure where you are but "typical" UK rates for a teacher would be £25 to £30 per hour. You would pay more in London I guess and also higher level teachers may charge more

 

[Rubenagoras]

Wow thanks everyone for your advice, you are the first contact I have with this new world is saxo and really appreciate every single comment on here. I think Saxo Alto is what motivates me the most cause size and is cause sounds super good and is versatile. Definetely I will pop in sax.co.uk which I have seen is a great shop and ask for further advise 🙂