Saxophone

Wow! This song sounds so good being played with a Saxophone.

The saxophone is a woodwind instrument. Due to its presence in various bands, many people are interested in learning how to play the saxophone. If you are a beginner and want to join beginners saxophone lessons, you have many choices, some of which are online classes and offline classes. You can take the other various options listed below into consideration while making your decision.

Online lessons

One way you can learn saxophone is through the thousands of online tutorials available. There are a large number of videos and theory knowledge available on the web. However, as a beginner, this is not a recommended path to take. You should learn from a teacher who would be able to guide you as and when you make a mistake. When you move past the beginner’s stage, you can educate yourself with these online saxophone lessons as you would have enough knowledge yourself to know whether you are learning it right or not. Apart from learning to play, you will also get tips on how to buy a saxophone, maintaining it and so much more!

Home lessons

If there are no saxophone classes nearby or classes not suiting your time preference, you can always go for home classes. Ask the teacher whether they would be interested in coming to your place and teaching you. You will get their full attention as you will be the only student there. The downside is that home classes can be more expensive as the teacher would also charge you for the transportation in most cases. But this would be the best solution when your child is shy and would rather learn alone than with a group of students.

One to one classes

There are also music academies and teachers who offer one-on-one course for those who prefer learning alone. If you would like to go for this kind of course, ask in advance whether they provide such classes. As with home lessons, one-on-one lessons too might cost you a bit more than the normal lessons.

Group classes

Group saxophone lessons consist of many students. It is fun to learn with others and it would give you an idea of how your skills are with respect to your peers. You can hold friendly competitions to improve your playing skills. The disadvantage here is that some students catch up fast while others take it slow. The teacher should make sure the slow person is not pushed to take it fast while the student going ahead is not told to go slow.

Practice!

No matter how you have decided to learn saxophone, regular and dedicated practice remains the key. Ask your teacher any doubts that you may have immediately. Record yourself and listen to it. This can give you a valuable insight into how you are performing. You can also ask a peer or friend any queries you might be having. You can also use virtual bands available online to make your practice sessions more fun and productive. Have fun playing as that is what will keep you motivated.

These are some of the options from which you can choose for your saxophone lessons and move further. To know more on how to maintain your saxophone, check out: http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/maintaining-your-saxophone/. For more on saxophones, you can refer to http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/.

Just listening to the way the saxophone is played here, doesn’t it make you want to learn and buy one?

Maintaining Your Saxophone

While we have already seen how to clean your saxophone in the article: http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/cleaning-tips-for-those-playing-the-sax/. In this article, we will discuss some small ways in which you can keep your sax ready for play and ensure that the life of the instrument is prolonged. Whether you are a newbie saxophone player just taking beginner saxophone lessons or an advanced player, some of these tips will come in handy. A well maintained sax is a thing of beauty, and the better your sax looks, the keener you will be to practice more!

Brush your teeth

Always brush your teeth before you play the saxophone, even if you are only practicing. This is to prevent the pads from becoming sticky and accumulating gunk, which can be both unhygienic and puts you off tune. It is also inadvisable to eat or drink anything other than water while you are playing.

Holding the sax

It is advisable to learn how to hold the saxophone to ensure its long life and to develop a correct posture. Always hold the sax by the bell, because it is the strongest part of the instrument. This way you will not risk something coming loose. Never hold up the instrument by the keys, and avoid touching them until you are ready to play. Remember that it is a delicate instrument and must be treated with care at all times.

Disassembling

After you finish playing the sax, whether for a practice session or for your sax lessons, or even a performance, make it a habit to disassemble the instrument and put away all the parts in their correct places. Remove the neck strap and put it away in an accessory pocket to prevent it from scratching the instrument. Remove the mouthpiece, pad, and reed, clean them and put them away. Detach the neck from the body of the instrument and ensure that they are both devoid of moisture and clean. Once clean and dry, the neck and body should be put back together before storage.

Shutting the case

Once the sax has been cleaned and dried, place it gently in its place in the case. Put the mouthpiece and other accessories in their rightful place in separate compartments or bags so that they don’t rattle against each other, getting damaged or scratching the saxophone. However, don’t immediately shut the case. Leave it open for a while so that you are sure that any moisture is completely dried. Give it around 15 minutes to prevent bacteria from accumulating on the horn and damaging the instrument.

Use soft cloth

When you are cleaning the sax, irrespective of which part you are cleaning, you need to use a soft and lint-free cloth. Using any kind of harsh fabric can scratch the finish of the sax and might even damage its interior. Using cloth that is not completely flexible and soft might also result in the cleaning become ineffective. So a soft cotton or flannel cloth is the best choice for cleaning the sax.

With these tips above, you can ensure that your saxophone has a long life, and keeps its luster. With just a little care and attention, you will have a shinier, better, and more effective instrument. For more tips on saxophone care, lessons, and general playing, please refer to: http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/.

Myths about Saxophone and Saxophone Lessons

The saxophone is an instrument played with a mouthpiece. They are generally made of brass but are available in many types in the recent era. They have been the basis of a lot of assumptions and myths that are floating around. There are two main types of saxophones, one which was designed for military bands and the other one for an orchestra. It is an age-old instrument so you might have come across various myths surrounding saxophones. Read on to know what is true and what is not.

The tone of a saxophone depends on the metal.

The popular myth is that the tone of a saxophone depends on the material it is made of. But if that were true, it should be that all the saxophones made from a certain material like bronze or brass should have the same sound. These kinds of myths come into being when various makers of the instruments make certain statements. These statements support their marketing for the musical instrument.

The lacquered brass gives reliable projection

How can a saxophone made from a particular material give off reliable projection? Might this mean that other materials are not good enough to produce a saxophone? It hits a spot with the buyers and soon, everyone will be repeating this as a fact and pay no attention to what it actually means. How can it be that a specific metal can be the cause of projection or lack of it?!

Smaller cup allows for better resonance

The idea behind this false statement could be that a smaller cup might mean lesser volume of space and lesser mass. This can make a pretty good statement that smaller diameter of the cup is the reason for better resonance and sound. While in reality, the size of the cup has nothing to do with it. But people make their own assumptions and fail to research properly.  This can lead to pretty big and widely spread assumptions.

Full ribbed are more durable

It is a statement which actually fails to make any sense. But people do believe that full ribbed instruments are more durable than non-ribbed or mini-ribbed ones. It has no proper foundation and it is yet another statement making the rounds after a manufacturer or the like has given it birth.

Root of these myths

This kind of assumptions usually takes root from the manufacturers who publicize their latest design and give off a half-researched statement which the public repeats without actually understanding.

There are a lot of instances where the manufacturers are heard quoting a statement and later heard quoting something that totally disagrees with their previous opinion. There are a lot more examples such as based on the weight of the instrument; it will define the resonance and sound. Another much-heard one is that the thumb nook has no effect on the instrument and its sound effect. This is such a poor statement that anybody can try it and see how it does not leverage the statement.

Research properly before buying a new saxophone. Differentiate clearly between the assumptions that the general public makes and the truth. Read extensively or approach a friend if you are in doubt. If you are new to saxophones, check out this link for more details: http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/how-to-buy-the-instrument-for-saxophone-lessons-beginners/. For more on saxophones, you can refer to http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/.

Saxophone Lessons:  Saxophone Buyer’s Guide

When you first start out to take saxophone lessons, you realize that you can do a lot more and learn to play sax a lot faster if you actually had a sax available to you at all times. This means either renting or purchasing one. This can help you in practicing easily in your free time as well as enjoying playing time with the sax. Of course, there is the option to purchase a used saxophone, but if you plan to buy a new one, it might be helpful to tick a few boxes.

Settle on a musical genre

The first thing when purchasing a saxophone is to decide which type of sax you want to buy. There are several different voicings that are suitable for different musical genres and for different levels of your saxophone learning. Alto saxophones are the ones mostly used by beginners because it needs less air, making it perfect for beginners and younger students. For some students, it might take time to make a decision. In this case, always go in for a beginner sax, which would be generally alto. The different voices available are alto, tenor, bass and baritone, and soprano.

Find a brand you like

When it comes to saxophones, it is always better to buy from a good brand. Because this is an investment you are making for the long term, it is a good idea not to go for an instrument just because it is cheaper. Investing in your instrument is like investing in your musical future. So make sure that whatever you buy would last you for a few years. One of the reasons why branded saxophones are recommended is that it is easier to get them serviced in case of problems. With unknown brands, this can become a problem.

Buy a student level sax

There are many different types of saxophones that each player can purchase according to his or her requirements or tastes. However, certain saxophones are easier and better for beginners than others. Some, like the soprano saxophone, are generally used by professionals and are not very easy for students to use or learn. It makes sense for students to pick a sax which enables them to learn faster and learn better. Most students are advised to pick up an alto sax but bass or baritone saxophones are good for beginners too. Student level saxophones also tend to be less expensive and have features that make it easy for newbies to learn saxophone.

Research on the available options

The first thing to do before setting out to purchase a saxophone is to research all your options. You might want to set a budget for your purchase because some saxophones can be really expensive. You can learn all you need to about the different saxophones first, then go to the shop and try out the ones you are interested in. This approach reduces the level of confusion that might arise otherwise. It is a good idea to take along a friend who knows about saxophones or even your saxophone teacher along to buy the sax as they can help you make the right decision.

You can also check out the website, http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/, which is a vast resource for saxophone enthusiasts. For more specific information on buying an instrument for beginners, this is a good article: http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/buying-a-saxophone-in-singapore/.

Saxophone Lessons: Fundamental Techniques to Teach Saxophone Students

In whatever undertaking one is attempting to pursue, one is inclined to believe that if he gets off at the right foot, he is likely to succeed.  This could hold true for students of saxophone lessons.  As a teacher, it is imperative that techniques should go hand in hand with forming good habits.  And this should be acquired, practiced and internalized at the onset or during the early stages of the lessons.  Or if your student has an existing ‘bad habit’, you should be able to nip it in the bud and apply corrective measures and discipline in saxophone music lessons.  Singapore students have varied playing or mastery levels; but most are beginners.  Thus, it is important for a teacher to give the student a diagnostic or assessment to find out his learning ability, level of mastery, and playing techniques.

The fundamentals lay the groundwork for masterful saxophone playing skills.  Here are some guidelines on how you, as  teacher, could set the wheels in motion:

1. Earn the trust of your student/s. This could be achieved by showing them your capabilities, being confident in how you teach, and motivating them to persevere. Walk the talk. They need a teacher who could empathize with their difficulties and challenge them to level-up.  They need to feel assured that you’re in it for the long haul.

2. Develop their listening skills. Whether your student is a virtuoso or a beginner, they need to hone their listening skills.  They have to listen as they are producing the sound and to the sound that they actually make. Their ears should be tuned-in both ways.  Listening is a powerful tool of influence.  ‘Experiential’ listening also motivates and highly influences students in saxophone playing.  Experiencing and listening to passionate and creative saxophonists and moving live or recorded performances, are subconscious or direct elements that your students could draw from as they plays the saxophone.

3. This activity could never be emphasized enough by a teacher.  When executed the wrong way, it could zap the energy and even the passion out of your student.  Your job as a teacher is to teach them how to practice.  The end is not only to develop the proper playing habits and techniques.  But to give them the proper motivation to embrace practice sessions as a rewarding endeavor.

4. Without proper breathing techniques, your student could not power-up a woodwind instrument such as a saxophone.  Consciously breathing deeply not only powers-up the lungs.  It promotes clarity, relaxation, and stability that invigorate the body’s overall well-being.

5. Lead your student to ‘enjoy the moment’. Emotions play a big part in a student’s decision to pursue and improve on his saxophone music lessons.  The sound of the saxophone, in particular, anchors on soulful expression. Hence, it is dubbed as ‘the sexy sound of sax’.  Savoring and deriving pleasure out of playing the saxophone is something that you should nurture in your student.

Here are some tips on how you could bring out your student’s heart and soul:  http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/helpful-tips-on-how-to-be-more-soulful-and-expressive-during-saxophone-lesssons/

A teacher’s role in the success of every student could not be discounted.  And a great teacher could not just breeze through the basics of saxophone lessons and hammer on the heavier stuff’.  In http://www.saxophonelessonssingapore.com,  there are no ‘shortcuts’ to learning and teaching.  Every step is a stepping stone to mastery and success.

Saxophone Lessons:  Choosing a Saxophone Teacher

The sax is a complicated instrument and not something you can pick up in a few online tutorials. While it is easy to play the sax, it becomes progressively more and more complex as your learning curve rises. At some point or the other, you will require some really good coaching in order to get to the next level of your sax training. In fact, without a good teacher, you might find yourself at a standstill, develop bad habits, make mistakes without realizing it and end up being a mediocre instead of the good player you might have the potential to be. Before starting saxophone lessons, you can read this article for more information on what would be expected of you: http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/tips-for-selecting-a-saxophone-teacher/.

Good credentials

Find out whether your prospective teacher has a degree from an accredited music academy. Self-taught saxophonists might be great, but they are very likely to lack the technical awareness that is required for imparting the same knowledge to others. With proper credentials, you would at least know that the teacher has a good sax background. In addition to this, a teacher who knows how to teach and has some experience with new learners would be a good asset in helping you kick off your own saxophone learning.

Performing experience

No matter why or how seriously you are learning the saxophone, it is good to have a teacher who knows the ins and outs of performing on stage or in front of others. Whether you ever plan to perform or not, it would give you assurance that the teacher is capable enough. If you have big plans for your future as a saxophonist, it makes even more sense to hire a teacher who regularly performs on stage. These are the only ones who can guide you through the steps, put you in contact with the right people, and understand your very valid fears of performing before a number of people.

Suitable location

This has no bearing on the teacher’s abilities, but it is better to find a teacher who teaches in a location that is near to your residence or is easily accessible. Even if the teacher is excellent, you should consider the time wasted in travelling – time that you could use in practicing. If you are set on having a teacher whose studio or home is far away, then you have a couple of other options as well. You can ask them to come to your place to teach. The price would automatically go up for private saxophone lessons. The other option is to discuss the availability of online classes.

Dedicated teacher

The one thing you don’t want in your saxophone teacher is to have them forget your lesson for the day or to take lengthy phone calls in the middle of a lesson. You want a teacher who devotes the time you pay them for to you and in helping you learn how to play the saxophone. If they don’t do this, look for another teacher because doing their own work or going off on a tangent not only denotes disrespect for you, it also wastes your time and money.

For more information on saxophone lessons, please refer to: http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/.

The Benefits of Home or One-on-One Saxophone Lessons

The learning capability of children, and even adults for that matter, are oftentimes affected by the learning pace and environment. This holds true especially for those who are trying to learn a new skill like saxophone music lessons. Truth be told, learning to play the saxophone is not a walk in the park. Breathing, finger positions, tonguing, reading music notes, timing — these are techniques that are going on at the same time.   This could be a bit too much for a child or an adult to take, especially if there is added pressure from peers and pacing.

Music lessons can be taken in two ways. You could sign-up for a band or group music class, or through one-on-one or in-home sessions with a music teacher. Each method has its own merits. Yet for absolute beginners, especially children, it would be best to enrol them in a music school under an individual teaching session.   Or hire a private teacher who can give your child lessons from the comfort of your own home.

Here are the advantages of opting for home-based or one-on-one lessons:

1. There’s no place more comfortable than in one’s own home, right? The home environment could be an ideal learning domain for your child. If he feels more relaxed and at ease, he can readily absorb new learning concepts in saxophone lessons. Singapore students also prefer home lessons as it relieves them from the stress of travel time.

2. A music teacher who is working with a student on a one-to-one basis could get to know the student better. With this, he would know how to motivate the student in areas of difficulties. The teacher could get an insight of what kind of music the student is interested in, thereby making it easier for him to learn the concepts and play.

3. Home-based lessons could curb or lessen the level of frustration, as opposed to group lessons. Things could get a little tense when a student fumbles on finger placements and movements. Or he may feel restricted when he could not blow enough air into the saxophone.   He could also get rattled if his tempo or playing speed is one or a half step away from the beat and rhythm of the song. It is hard to get things right when peers are breathing down your neck and impatient eyes are staring at you. The pressure of catching up could sometimes be detrimental to learning. The student can learn at his own pace, under the guidance and encouragement of his teacher.

In this light, the next best thing is to find the right teacher who is capable of teaching saxophone lessons on a one-on-one basis. Check out some of the things to look out for in hiring a teacher: http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/makes-good-saxophone-teacher/

Individuals have different learning abilities. Some work well when they are exposed to the dynamics and the energy of a group or class. Others, though, feel the need to confine themselves in an environment where they could focus and work at their own pace.

Both learning scenarios are offered by http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/. There are competent teachers available who specialize in a class setting or individual or home-based teaching. What do you think would suit you best?

Why Play the Saxophone?

Before picking up any instrument, there are a number of questions that arises. Some of them are practical questions such as whether you can find a decent teacher or whether it is affordable, but some are much more personal. One of the questions that calls you to look deep within you is – why play the saxophone at all? Why choose this instrument out of all others, each more wonderful that the next? Only you can tell if you have the passion to play the sax, but we can give you great reasons to choose the saxophone as your first instrument! If you want more information on the sax, check out this website: www.saxophonelessonssingapore.com.

Produces soulful music

Anyone who has heard the sax being played cannot deny that it produces lovely music. The rich, deep and soulful tone of the sax makes it conducive to produce a romantic atmosphere. Many saxophonists feel that the sounds produced by the sax are unique and no other instrument could possibly match the sax. Of course, they may be prejudiced, but nevertheless, just listening to a good saxophonist playing is enough to prove their point. Once you have the sax in your hands, you will start to feel the rhythm of its music.

It’s versatile and used in different genres

Though the saxophone is generally classified as a jazz instrument and popular culture often limits players to certain genres of music, it is actually an instrument that lends itself to different genres of music easily. So while many people will urge you to take jazz saxophone lessons, there is no need to feel limited to the genre. From blues to rock, the sax is adaptable to all kinds of music, and the result usually merely depends on the skills of the player. The sax sounds wonderful, no matter what genre of music you are playing. However, if you want to stick with jazz, here is an interesting article that might be helpful to you: http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/saxophone-jazz-lessons/.

Looks gorgeous and intricate

Let’s face it! For many people, the very idea of touching an instrument that doesn’t look good is not even to be considered. People want to look good when they are making music, as illogical as it might sound. The saxophone, with its artistic design and intricate fittings is the epitome of cool. It has a presence of its own and a well-maintained sax will draw eyes towards it. The instrument is as intricate and beautiful as can be found anywhere! So while the looks of the instrument should not be a major factor in your decision, it should be noted that the sax is a gorgeous-looking instrument.

Endless challenges

This might surprise you because facing challenges is daunting and an instrument that is difficult to learn is usually classified as a negative trait. But for many passionate musicians, it’s the challenges that keep them motivated. Once you have mastered the instrument, what is left? It just gets boring. But finding new challenges all the time with this complicated instrument is one of its major charms. It all depends on your attitude, but when there is something left to learn at the end of your sax lessons for the day, then you will look forward to it the next day. It is a definite motivation if you are a serious student / player of music.

Beginner Saxophone Lessons: Highly Effective Practice Techniques

Enrolling yourself in a one-hour-a-week saxophone music class will not make you a saxophone virtuoso. You may have the best saxophone teacher who can teach you the best playing techniques for beginner saxophone lessons and beyond, but all these would be in vain if you don’t practice.   Aside from your efforts, the biggest investment you will be making during practice is your time. The more time you spend practicing, the better chances you have of becoming a great sax player, right? Not quite… This may have a ring of truth to it. But wouldn’t it be better if you could spend less practice hours and still develop proficient to mastery skills?

Indeed, practice is the key. The way you use that key to open a door can spell the difference. If you inserted or turned the key on the doorknob the wrong way, the door won’t open. The key to unlock your saxophone playing progress is through proper and effective practice techniques.

Here are 4 highly effective principles for practice sessions:

1. ‘Bite-size’ portions. With your eagerness to play, tendency is to bite off or even swallow more than you can chew. Students often want to ‘breeze through’ exercises in their saxophone lessons. Singapore instructors reiterate the importance of going through difficult exercises in small increments. Concentrate on a certain section. Execute it with the proper technique accuracy and speed before moving on to the next section. If you are learning to play a music piece, this method will give you better flow, with fewer mistakes, finer, consistent and more accurate execution.

2. Repeat. Repeat. The physical aspect of playing a musical instrument involves developing muscle memory. It is a skill wherein the body parts used in playing an instrument automatically conforms and executes what is required in order to produce a particular sound. If you see a sax player pressing on the notes with nimble fingers, and blowing into the mouthpiece with effortless control, he is doing that through muscle memory. Playing seems like second nature; as natural as breathing. One of the best ways to develop muscle memory is through repetition. As stated above, repeating specific and smaller sections of a piece at a time could result in a solid and more precise execution.

3. Learning music and memorization are like partners in crime. One cannot play music passionately without getting down and dirty with chords, patterns, scales that you have to commit to memory. Weaning yourself away from a chord chart could help you concentrate on progressing on execution techniques. It could also save less time and effort in learning and playing music pieces.

Excellence in beginner saxophone lessons greatly relies on your perseverance to practice. Here are more pointers on how effective practice principles could help you in your pursuit to excel in playing the saxophone. Check out: http://saxophonelessonssingapore.com/how-to-excel-in-beginner-saxophone-lessons./

Inspirational Best-selling author H. Jackson Brown Jr. says: “You can’t hire someone to practice for you.” Indeed, it all begins with your will and discipline to succeed.   However, it definitely would not hurt to be guided and steered to the right direction. It is equally important that all these practice principles be under the guise of a capable instructor that you may find from www.saxophonelessonssingapore.com.