Some of the frequently asked questions I receive about saxophone lessons.
The question in the title is one of the most common when someone contacts me about saxophone lessons, and I imagine it must sound like a recurring theme for many music teachers. The question comes in several variations, and each of them answers legitimate doubts for beginners, so I decided to organise them in the following compilation:
I’ve never played an instrument and know nothing about music, is it possible to learn?
Of course you can! Every musician, professional or amateur, starts from the same point, but the more experience you have, the faster you learn. This is true for any kind of learning.
What is the right age to start?
That depends on your goals. If you’re dreaming of becoming a professional saxophonist, it’s great to start early. You’ll have plenty of time to develop the specific skills and knowledge that will make you a productive and efficient musician. But if your goal is simply to enjoy music while learning, there’s no age limit. In my studio, I’ve taught people from 4 to 83 years old, and every single one of them has the potential to learn and enjoy making music.
What are the key requirements or skills required to play the saxophone?
A lot of people think you need to have big lungs, long fingers, thick lips or other things like that, but actually, that’s not really necessary. It’s also really common to have a ‘musical aptitude test’ to measure these skills. I totally disagree with such tests, as they almost always measure what a person already has as a musical and cultural background more than their learning potential, which which is mostly influenced by motivation and the time spent studying. Having said that, it’s still important to have an instrument that’s in good condition and to make sure you have enough time to practice.
I’ve been playing solo for many years, so I’m sure I’m starting from a pretty advanced point, right?
But it depends on how you’ve studied over the years. It’s important to remember that sometimes it’s harder to unlearn than to learn, so if you’ve been playing an incorrect fingering for a long time, it might take you a bit longer to ‘unlearn’ that fingering than it would have taken you to learn it correctly in the first place.
How long will it take me to get the hang of playing?
It’s always so lovely to see a young person or adult taking their first steps on the instrument. In their first lesson, they’ll usually produce their first sounds and simple melodies (as long as they’ve remembered to bring their instrument with them, of course!). We’ll start with the basics, and before you know it, you’ll be sounding your saxophone and playing some simple melodies. There are two special cases:
- If the instrument is not in good condition, like grandaddy’s old saxophone that’s been sitting in the damp cellar for 35 years, it might need a few adjustments before it’s ready to play. And don’t forget, for the instrument to work, you’ll need a mouthpiece, a ligature, and at least one good reed (and these should be for the same type of saxophone).
- And if your child is under 8, there are a few extra things to think about (instrument, harness, how much time they can focus, how long the lessons are, size, strength, etc.). It’s totally normal if they don’t play the instrument in their first lesson, but most kids do. So, I suggest that parents help their children prepare for the first lesson so that they’re not disappointed if they don’t sound perfect. If they do, it’s no problem! The children will still feel great about themselves.
Yeah, but how long will it take me to learn?
Once again, you will be learning from the very first class. I’m not trying to sidestep the question, but it’s important to understand the concept of ‘learning’ as a process that happens over time.
According to your criteria, how long should one practice to handle the instrument?
All your life. I’ve been playing for about 30 years and I’m still learning new things.
I know I might not be [put here the name of the saxophonist you like the most], but I would absolutely love to play like him/her. Do you have any advice for me?
If you really want to play like a professional saxophonist, you should think about quitting your job or any other activity that takes up a lot of your time. You should then focus all your energy on the saxophone. The saxophonists you hear on recordings or in concerts are people who have spent many years training and are constantly working on their playing, technique, sound, etc. It’s like any specialised job, you know, it takes hours of practice and you have to keep on going. There’s a saying that goes around: ‘If I stop playing for one day, I’ll notice it myself. If I stop playing for two days, my colleagues will notice. If I miss three days, the audience will notice.’ So, it’s really important to set yourself realistic, achievable goals at the start of your journey, while also thinking about the other demands on your time.
I totally get that learning is a lifelong journey, but how long do I have to take classes?
That depends on your goals. Some people are happy to stop after three months, but others like to keep going. I’ve had students who’ve been with me for over 15 years and still enjoy coming to class every week. So, it’s really important to set your goals with honesty and realism.
How long do I have to practise?
How much you study depends on what you want to achieve. Some say, ‘The more, the better’, but there are a few things to consider. It’s better to have more study sessions in a week than just more hours. For example, I’d rather recommend 30 minutes of study every day than 5 hours one day a week. Even if the total time is less, repeating motor learning through rest periods is still beneficial. So, when talking about weekly study sessions, a long, solo session counts as ‘one repetition’, and the time spent is less important. On the other hand, long sessions for someone who hasn’t trained their embouchure muscles might lead to injury and fatigue. Daily study sessions can help you develop a good habit and a need to play, which is really good for your personal motivation – and we all know that’s the most important thing when it comes to learning, right?
That said, I really believe that it’s worth putting in the time to study well, even if that means spending less time on a subject. When I study, I like to have a clear plan in place, with specific areas and objectives, and I make sure to give myself plenty of reminders. While we all study to ‘make music’, it’s the mechanical and sound tools that help us to achieve that goal smoothly. It’s really important to have a space where you can focus without any interruptions and with everything you need close by.
Suzuki Method has a concept: ‘Efficient use of the body’. The less effort and tension a work requires, the better. This is true for a specific passage as well as for the posture you take when playing your instrument. It also applies to both work efficiency and motivation: you always have a better time when you play relaxed rather than tense.
I’m wondering whether it’s better to start with a good quality instrument or to save the investment for when you’re more confident of your abilities.
Starting out with a good saxophone is so important. You don’t want any extra challenges like mechanical problems, tuning issues or poor tone, do you? Don’t worry, professional saxophones aren’t more complex in the sense that they have ‘more buttons’ or ‘super-complicated’ things added to them. Instead, you’ll find they’re more in tune, more comfortable, and have a richer, more beautiful sound… And they are more expensive. So, my advice is to have a think about how much you’re willing to spend, and then have a chat with your teacher about what minimum quality you could be looking at. In my article ‘Which saxophone to start with: soprano, alto, tenor or baritone? I go through the pros and cons of each type of saxophone for beginners. And if you’re wondering about the best bang for your buck, check out my article ‘Musical Instruments: New or used?’ (Spanish only) and if you decide to buy a used saxophone, you can read ‘How to choose a used saxophone’ (Spanish only) also written by me.
If you have any doubts at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and I will do my best to clear them up. I wish you the best of luck!
Pablo Torrealba. Reproduction is permitted with attribution, www.saxlessons.nz