How To Play The Saxophone
The saxophone was invented by Adolphe Sax to get the produce the best of woodwind and brass instruments. It is an ideal instrument for both adults and children to learn to play. Children, however, do better at learning it due to the fact that they have less responsibilities and more time to devote to their hobbies.
The Type of Sax
The first thing you need to do once you have decided to take Singapore saxophone lessons is to choose the type of saxophone you want. This instrument comes in different sizes, tunings and is made to play in different types of music. The most common saxophones are the baritone, alto, tenor, and soprano. These are also classified as two types that of the military band, or the orchestral type. Although there are different types of saxophones they all have the same mechanism and fingerings, so once you learn one type you can generally play any type of saxophone.
Search for the instrument that is right for your budget including all the accessories that you need. But before buying, be sure to do a some research so that you will have the necessary knowledge to assess what is the right type for you. Most music stores have baritone, alto and tenor saxes in stock. Do a round of the stores and canvass the price. The less common saxophones are not usually stocked in most music stores, so locating one will be a little harder than usual.
Other Accessories
You will also need a mouthpiece, if the sax does not come with the instrument. These can be found at the local Singapore Saxophone store. Never go for the cheapest you can find, rather find something in the mid-priced range.
Buy a ligature if your saxophone is not equipped with one. The metal ligatures are known to produce inferior sounds so best stick with the leather ones that will also last longer. Make sure that the size is right for your sax.
You will also need a reed which comes in several strengths and is rated between 1 and 5 with 1 being the softest, and 5 being the hardest. Since, you are a beginner get one somewhere in the middle. You can do trial and error later when you are more proficient to see which is the best tone for you.
The neck strap is also very important when you are playing the saxophone. Every sax no matter what the size needs a neck strap which allows you to support the instrument and free your fingers. These come in many materials, so you need to find one that is comfortable for you.
To clean your instrument, make a swab out of cotton or silk. This is pushed through the inside of the instrument to clean moisture from it. They come in different sizes and lengths and the size you need, will depend on the type of sax you are playing.
You will also need a fingering chart. This will show you which keys to use to produce a certain note. You can get these from the internet or they come with a method book.
You will also need a method book. This is needed so you can refer to it and emphasize what you are learning in Singapore Saxophone class, and you can use it to practice with. They contain short passages of music that start from easy to more complicated as you advance in the saxophone lessons.
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