Sax Resources
On this page you will find required materials for lessons on saxophone here at Promethean Studios and various other resources for the saxophone as well. The resources on this page are specifically for the saxophone, more generic resources (music stores, recording studios, etc) are listed here. At the time this information was entered, all links worked and products listed were available. For information purposes only; we won't post resources when we know there might be any sort of problem with a product, business, or person listed but please check out the reliability, appropriateness, and reputation of any resource you plan to use.
Please have these for your Lessons
- An saxophone in fair condition suggestions and details below - I can advise you on the suitability of specific instruments.
- Reeds - 4 reeds in a 4 reed holder. 2 to 4/medium soft to medium hard strength, suggestions and details below.
- Strap - Neotech brand strap (suggestions and details below).
- 3 ring binder - with loose-leaf paper and pockets for holding handouts.
- Pencil - Erasable, colored pencils are best.
- Manuscript paper (music paper, staff paper) - Click here and print 5 sheets of ‘medium music paper, treble clef only’, bring them to your lesson. Feel free to download any of the other types of music paper you want and your friends can, too. For assignments and written exercises.
- 5 GB flash drive or larger - suggestions and details below.
- Download Audacity (optional) – details below.
- Metronome or Drum machine - suggestions and details below.
- Sheet music for 5 pieces - See below for guidelines on choosing music.
- 6th grade band book, regardless of the student’s age, if you’re a beginner - suggestions and details below.
- Tuning Fork. Bb or a piano or keyboard - Suggestions and details below.
More Details and Resources
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An saxophone in fair condition - I can advise you on the suitability of specific instruments. Always get
the best instrument you can reasonably afford.
- Beginning saxophone $800 - $1450.
- Intermediate saxophone $1500 – 2500.
- Top saxophones: Selmer, Yamaha, and Yanagisawa are long-term favorites with sax players and a top sax will cost $4000-$7500.
- Reeds - 4 reeds in a reed holder. It’s best to start with a box of 2s or medium soft reeds and when you finish the box bump up to a stronger reed each time – 2 to 2.5 to 3/medium soft to medium. Stop upgrading when you get to 3 or 3.5/medium or medium hard reeds. Most band directors will require you to start with 3 or 3.5; these are too hard for most beginners to make a consistent sound. Buy these reeds online – they will break and wear out so you need a box.
- Strap - We highly recommend saxophonists purchase a Neotech brand strap, which is made of neoprene and makes the neck a lot more comfortable. You’ll be very glad you did.
- Pencil - Musicians write with pencils because they make changes to their music and make frequent notations on the pages. Erasable, colored pencils are best.
- 5 GB flash drive (or larger) -To record your lesson, when you begin each lesson, give your flash drive to your instructor and they'll record your lessons. Be sure and take the drive with you when you leave and listen to it in your computer the day of or the day after your lesson. This will give you a way to review the lesson and give me a way to send demonstrations of technique or songs home with you. If you'll review your lesson each week, you'll progress about 5 to 10% faster.
- Audacity - Also, if you'd like to get a even more out of some of your own practices, download Audacity, a free computer-based recording program. It does many great things to help you practice; people even make professional albums with it. You can change the pitch of your song, record yourself, record yourself playing with your song, or isolate sections of songs for practice. Many good things.
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Metronome - Leave your metronome at home, but you need it to practice. Apps for iphone
– Tempo Advance is the best - $4. For Android, Tempo - $2. Standalone
metronomes: Planet Waves PW-MT-02 ($15), Korg MA-1 ($20-25). Use the metronome
whenever possible. It will develop your sense of rhythm and counting;
equally important, it will show you where you should be practicing. If
you follow the beat from the metronome in songs and exercises, the areas
where you don't do well will be revealed, and you'll know where to spend
extra practice time. The metronome is your drummer.
- When you’re having trouble getting into the metronome, use a drum machine. For iphone, use Garage Band, for Android use Drummer Friend - $3. Standalone drum machine: Boss DB-60. And a little home keyboard with rhythms and metronomic markings works well, too. Students who practice with metronomes or rhythm machines will also progress about 5 to 10 percent faster.
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Sheet music for 5 pieces - Most saxophone students at Promethean Studios are working on two types
of pieces at once: a classical piece and a ‘fun’ piece –
and maybe they’re learning to improvise too.
Note pieces are usually the traditional classical piece where to succeed in the piece
you must read and play the notes correctly. Many styles of music can be
written as a challenging "note piece", but classical pieces
are the most common choice.
Fun pieces - a "top hits" book with a CD that has songs you like is a great
choice. Don't worry about the difficulty. Be careful not to get instructional
material by accident. You will work through 1-2 songs per month, and will
need to keep a steady supply of cool songs available, as we learn the old ones.
- As the student progresses past the beginner stage, I will recommend note pieces and music to be purchased.
- 6th grade band book (regardless of the student’s age, if you’re a beginner). This will be used to learn note reading for beginning students. Any publisher will do, as they all teach the same basic things.
- Tuning fork preferably Bb or use a piano or keyboard - This is to learn to tune your saxophone. Develop your ear and become a great musician. We discourage the use of electric tuners (unless you're playing on stage and can't hear your saxophone), because it prevents musicians from developing their ear. But here are 2 cheap tuners: Boss TU-01 Chromatic Tuner - $18-20 OR Korg TM-50 Combo Tuner/Metronome $20 – 25.
- Harvard Brief Dictionary of Music - Recommended, but not required. Definitions for many useful musical terms are found here.
More saxophone resources
Instruments and accessories for sale:
- https://www.prowinds.com/merchantmanager/index.php - Prowinds.
- http://www.usahorn.com - USA horn.
- http://www.wichitaband.com/index.html - Wichita Band.
- http://www.wwbw.com/ - Woodwind and Brasswind.
Repairs
- Williamson Music Company, 701 East Plano Pkwy, Suite 100, Plano, TX 75074, 972-516-1331.
- Steve Goodson Woodwinds, LLC, New Orleans, LA USA - https://www.saxgourmet.com excellent sax site, much wisdom and insight on saxophone. Top level repairs for pros and great instruments.
If you have any further saxophone questions, contact us today.