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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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Original poster

Saxophone

17 replies

FlamingoBingo · 14/11/2009 11:13

DD1 (6.5) is learning recorder and really working hard at it. She's decided that eventually she'd like to learn the saxophone (she has fallen in love with jazz music - taking after her bass-playing daddy!).

A friend of mine, who is a musician, said that you can get small saxophones for small people, but when we went to a music shop yesterday to look at them, we were told that she'd be too small to play sax and ought to learn clarinet first.

Any thoughts? She's not keen on the idea of learning the clarinet first but is happy to if there's no other choice.

The other thing I need to consider is whether or not to insist that she learns the recorder properly before we invest in a saxophone or to strike while the iron's hot, as it were, and get her one sooner. Her birthday's in May so it seems like a good time to say if she's learnt recorder by then, then she can have a sax for her birthday.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:

snorkie · 14/11/2009 15:19

I don't think you can get 'child sized' saxophones. Most people start on an alto sax at around 11, but it is also possible to start on a soprano sax (which is a bit smaller), presumably a bit younger (it's not recommended to start learning on the bigger tenor & baritone saxes for some reason, but a young child definitely wouldn't be able to in any case). I'm thinking that a soprano sax is around the same size as a clarinet, but not entirely sure about that, so I'm not entirely sure how old/big you would need to be to start it.

You can easily switch between saxophones when you are older, so starting on a small one deosn't mean you have to stick with it.

The recorder is a good instrument to get better at until she is big enough. I suspect that 7 may still be too young.

CokeFan · 14/11/2009 15:36

I play the sax (alto, although have had a go on soprano, tenor and DH has a baritone). Personally I wouldn't recommend the soprano for a beginner as they're harder to play well - just not as nice a sound.

I've also got a clarinet, but IMO they're harder to learn than the sax. Saxophones have similar fingering to recorder but clarinets have 12 notes in each "range" rather than an octave (didn't really get into it so may be wrong on this - sax sounds much nicer)

There's these saxophones for a lighter weight version.

Original poster

FlamingoBingo · 14/11/2009 16:27

Thanks for those pointers. I guess it's just a case of being the right size then, for an alto sax. Hopefully she'll be a bit bigger when she has learnt the recorder.

CokeFan - when would you say would be a good age to start learning?

I have seen a youtube clip of a 5yo playing sax beautifully! But I'm aware that's going to be a rare event. However, if he can be big enough to hold a full size alto sax, then I guess my 7yo should be able to?

OP posts:

cat64 · 14/11/2009 16:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Snorter · 14/11/2009 16:35

My son started alto in year 4, having done the recorder since year 1. Even then he used a special harness at first to distribute the weight better, and was told ON NO ACCOUNT to hold the sax to the side of his body (but straight ahead down through the legs as it were) so as not to cause back problems. I sense 7 is a little young. There is a lot to be said for learning the recorder longer first. Waiting a little longer will not hold your child back.

Original poster

FlamingoBingo · 14/11/2009 16:45

It's not about holding her back, it's about how keen she is now - I think waiting a lot of years may be really disheartening for her.

I don't know how old year 4s are? I might save up for that lightweight one that CokeFan linked to.

OP posts:

snorkie · 14/11/2009 17:01

If you try her on an instrument that's too big though it will put her off quicker than anything. If you tell her that she's too small at the moment, but that the fingering on the recorder is the same (more or less) & that if she keeps at the recorder it will be very easy to change over as soon as she's big enough & not to lose much if any ground (all true), then I think most 6 year olds are capable of understanding that. Could she do a recorder grade exam or two to keep her motivated in the meantime?

snorkie · 14/11/2009 17:02

year 4s are 9-10 btw.

Snorter · 14/11/2009 17:03

True, but you don't want to put strain on her body either. I expect a sax teacher could give a good opinion as to whether she was physically ready and whether her teeth were OK for it too.

Year 4 is aged 8/9

snorkie · 14/11/2009 17:32

oops, snorter is right about year 4 ages.

Snorter · 14/11/2009 17:41

snorkie, are you related to me?

mathsmum · 14/11/2009 19:52

if you can get 'the right instrument from your child' by atarah ben-tovim from your local library, it is brilliant about emotional, intellectual and practical aspects of kids and instruments

CokeFan · 14/11/2009 19:54

Well, I only started to learn as an adult (I played other instruments earlier) so I'm not sure what the minimum age should be - best to ask a music teacher.

Flute is also very similar fingering to recorder and much lighter. Also requires much less "puff" IME. Obviously it's nowhere near as cool as the sax

frakkinaround · 14/11/2009 19:58

snorter makes a good point - saxophone/clarinet can damage the teeth if the top ones aren't through and 'set' firmly. My sister started at 9 and the pressure on her teeth actually bent them so she needed braces. Talk to your dentist for a professional opinion as the teacher said she'd be fine.

Sax is much, much easier than clarinet but if you play clarinet (for the embouchure) and flute/recorder for the fingering you can pick up sax at any time.

Original poster

FlamingoBingo · 14/11/2009 23:38

Ooh, she might be keen on flute - her uncle plays the flute. Will suggest that to her.

OP posts:

hobbbledehoyowner · 27/11/2009 15:30

My DD has got the Trevor James alphasax.They are lighter and the keys are moved closer together but more or less fingerings the same as a standard alto.DD is a small 7 yo and manages the alphasax quite easily , they advertise it as being suitable for Y2 to Y7.
The only problem is that they have only been on the market for about a year so there are very few second hand ones around and they are about £400 new

AuntieMaggie · 27/11/2009 15:42

I play both sax and clarinet - I have an alto sax but have also played tenor and baritone sax and other clarinets.

I played the clarinet for years before changing to the sax but wouldn't necessarily say one was harder than the other.

A soprano sax is about the same size as a clarinet but I think they're more expensive as they aren't as common.

The alpha sax sounds quite interesting though!

I would try to get her somewhere where she can try the instruments out before buying one though just incase she changes her mind. Also after a blow on a few different things she might decide she doesn't like the sax.

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