 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Karen
Date: 2005-08-10 14:32
I have a 7 yr old son, who we have promised to start an instrument next year. I have been told from my daughters piano teacher, that he would benefit starting the piano for perhaps 2 years, to get the concept of music etc.. He is really keen to start on the saxaphone. As we do not have a lot of experience in either instruments, I thought a few opinions from a few experienced saxaphone players would be great. Can anyone give me some advice?
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Author: mkeith
Date: 2005-08-11 02:23
phew... this might be long.
If you poll the kids in the all-state bands and orchestras, the top kids almost invariably play piano as a second or even primary instrument. My 14 yr son is a violinist. He started piano at seven and picked up the violin in 5th grade. Even though he was "behind" the other kids (most start at age 3! ) he made up the ground in a few months and has been very successful. We credit the piano. I vote that piano should be taught to every kid.
That said ... 2 yrs is a long time to wait for a 7 yr old! It would be a shame to see a real desire be lost. Personally, I would be inclined to work a deal with my kids, perhaps something like full time piano lessons are required for at least 2 yrs. On (insert date) you can start saxophone with one lesson a month. Then taper off the piano. Double lessons can be a real financial burden.
There is also the issue of physical size to worry about. 1/2 size violins are a lot more common than little saxophones! You might want to visit a store and have him try a sax to see that it is kinda heavy and mention that growing might be necessary.
Finally. Music is a social expression. Whatever instrument you start him on please seek out venues where he can play with other musicians on a regular basis from the start. School band fills this function but isn't usually available until the middle grades. We have a local store which offers a beginning jazz band that is great for the elementary kids and gives them a HUGE headstart at learning to play in an ensemble. The kids who learn to play in a group are the ones who stick with it.
Summary: go with piano. phase in sax as he is physically able.
Mark.
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Author: Theboy_2
Date: 2005-08-14 22:03
in my opinion, "which is just an opinion", you don't need to worry about piano. i myself have never learned the piano, and i have made into provincial honour band(our equivalent to all-state bands). a private instructor is a good idea. some marching bands have a beginner band program, which would be good to join, that would teach your son how to play the sax, and how to be in a band, it would teahc how to read music. usually in the first year of band in schools, that what is tought is how to read music. not every kid starts with piano and can read music when they start in school. with that said, piano can also help to read music, and enhance the musicality of your child. it can help for him to be at the top if the class, but not necessarily needed. if your child is set on playing the sax, do it, it doesn't make sense to burden a child on playing an instrument he doesn't enjoy, it becomes a chore instead of enjoyment, he wont practise if he could help it. with the insturment of choice, it becomes enjoyment and fun. you could also mix lessons of both piano and sax, or one of them switching off one per month. hope this helps.
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Author: morgan
Date: 2005-08-29 00:39
i started the sax about 3 months ago and i love it its really the best instrument you could play its very easy the keys are easy to get right its just 3 fingers on top and 3 on bottom (thats the beginner fingering chart) write the letters above the notes look on the internet and look for a note book on an alto sax if thats what hes gonna play and write the letters above or below above is best
love
morgan
Karen wrote:
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I have a 7 yr old son, who we have promised to start an instrument next year. I have been told from my daughters piano teacher, that he would benefit starting the piano for perhaps 2 years, to get the concept of music etc.. He is really keen to start on the saxaphone. As we do not have a lot of experience in either instruments, I thought a few opinions from a few experienced saxaphone players would be great. Can anyone give me some advice?
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Author: Alex
Date: 2005-09-13 19:17
hi, i am a saxophonist and it helped me a great deal to learn the basics of music on a different and simpler instrument. it didnt take me long before i was ready to start on the sax. so id say just learn the basics and go straight on. i am 14 to and play quite well and it helped me knowing the basics such as notes on the stave and so on.
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Author: BokkBokk
Date: 2005-09-15 09:30
go straight to saxaphone after a couple of weeks he will get the concept of music. i got the concept of music after a couple of weeks when i started the saxaphone.
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Author: The Sax Wiz
Date: 2005-09-21 22:14
Personally I would start either on piano or clarinet. The piano will, as she said, help him grasp music, and notes. The clarinet on the other hand, as I started out on from piano, is almost the exactly the same thing, but different sound, easier to blow, and less expensive. =)
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Author: ian
Date: 2005-09-28 00:26
well, i started on clarinet, then moved on to other instruments, but it would definitely help if your son was given some sort of musical introduction on an instrument that he can play easily, given his size and age. that being said, piano is an obvious choice, but i, for one, can not play the piano at all... i know the basics of it and i know where the notes are, but i cant get my fingers to "move" correctly. The main thing that will help him if he does learn piano first is that he will know the basics of music when he starts saxophone, and all he will have to work on is memorizing the fingerings (very simple) and learning how to control his airstream. In my experience, most kids under ten do not have the air support or lung capacity necessary to play the saxophone, so get him to try it out. If he cant get a sound at all, then he should probably go for the piano. just my opinion, though. hope ive helped in some way
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