Any Saxophone players?

[5150]

Can anyone give any advice to an aspiring sax player?

I've wanted to learn Soprano Sax for a long time and have finally decided to embark. I've played guitar for 17 years along with piano to grade 1 and percussion for a number of years.

I've been told that soprano is probably not the best to learn on - would anyone agree with that / give any tips for learning and/or decent equipment?

Many thanks
5150

[timbob]

I would agree with that assessment - the intonation on the soprano sax is a pain the the arse. Go with the alto to start with, or tenor of you prefer the sound of that instrument.

My best advice (as a saxophone teacher) is firstly to make sure you get hold of a decent instrument. Sax.co.uk do decent hire purchase schemes with good discounts if you buy after having hired from them. Their prices are good, and the instruments come well adjusted - many of my pupils have used them.

My second bit of advice would be to get a teacher, and make sure they're right for you. There are so many key things to get right from the off that if doesn't make sense to try and teach yourself. You'll get frustrated and quit - like so many do. Call around a few in your area (there are listings on the sax.co.uk website) and discuss your needs - what music do you want to play? What music excites you? What are your musical goals? The right teacher will inspire you and leave you desperate to get home and practice your sax that week. The wrong teacher will make you play music you're not interested in and leave you unmotivated to practice.

[eggchaser1987]

Have to agree, I started the alto when I was about 10. Really enjoyed it when I was doing it but as it goes get older and not seen as 'cool' other things start to take over and it just stopped

Still have it and tempted to pick it up again soon.

Anyway yes, alto seams a good start but a good tutor is a good place to start!

[rswift]

PM if you want a few local contacts for professional teachers, I'm not a Sax player .... I'm a professional double bass payer, but I work quite regularly around Northampton & MK, and know quite a few of the professional qualified musicians who teach, happy to put you in touch.

[timbob]

I'm not quite sure on the etiquette of advertising one's services on PH... but after seeing the above post and checking the OP's profile - I'm based between Northampton and Bedford and teach professionally.

OP, if you have any questions at all about saxophones (buying advice etc), want to ask for advice on playing or teaching, feel free to email me through my profile.

[5150]

That's great - many thanks for the feedback . . .

[Big_Dog]

Been learning for a few years but should really get some lessons if only for some mouthpiece/reed advice. I have a 1929 Buescher Truetone and a Yamaha YTS 62. I cant leave the old Truetone alone, its a lovely thing.
Any teachers around Ashford, Middlesex?

Edited by Big_Dog on Wednesday 27th June 12:55

[Colonial]

Bari sax for me.

60s yanigasawa delacquered and scared to hell. 1950s bakelite mouthpiece.

Started with the alto when I was 11.