| The saxophone is a wonderful instrument that adds | | | | functions and ceremonies including military funerals, |
| depth and variety to many pieces of music. It is a | | | | welcoming dignitaries, swearing in of various political |
| woodwind instrument and it uses a single reed | | | | leaders, etc. This requires the versatility to be able to |
| attached to its mouthpiece. The reed vibrates as the | | | | play those different types of music. The saxophone |
| air passes through it to allowing the saxophone to | | | | family of instruments actually has a "military band |
| produce its great sound. | | | | family" of saxophones such as the Subcontrabass |
| In the early 1800's, Adolphe Sax noticed that there | | | | saxophone, the baritone saxophone all the way to the |
| was a bit of a gap between the brass and woodwind | | | | sopranino saxophone. Many of these are used in |
| sections of the orchestra. The gap was produced | | | | orchestral pieces and particularly jazz pieces. Famous |
| because of the relatively quiet sounds produced by | | | | instrumentalists such as Kenny G have albums that |
| the woodwinds and the lack of versatility of pitch | | | | feature his ability to play several different instruments |
| range among the brass instruments. Therefore, he | | | | in the saxophone family including the soprano sax |
| developed the saxophone which gave strength of | | | | primarily but also the alto and tenor sax, as well. |
| voice to the woodwinds and flexibility to the brass. He | | | | Students in grade school begin to learn to play the |
| developed the instrument in 1841 and actually | | | | saxophone in about the fourth or fifth grades when |
| developed two different groups of the instruments. | | | | they join the band at school. Because of size issues, |
| Between the Sopranino saxophone and the | | | | most learn to play the alto sax because it is the right |
| Contrabass saxophone, the one group of these | | | | size for their fingers and their stature. The soprano |
| instruments could span the entire range offered by a | | | | saxophone, though much lighter, is considered a solo |
| piano. Many of these are transposing instruments | | | | instrument and is more expensive that either the also |
| which lend a whole different set of abilities to the | | | | or tenor sax. It is therefore not offered by most |
| saxophones. | | | | schools. However, alto saxophones and some tenor |
| The patent that was given to Mr. Sax in 1846 expired | | | | saxophones are can be purchased relatively |
| in 1866. After the patent expired, numerous other | | | | inexpensively so many schools have both available. |
| musicians and instrument makers adjusted and added | | | | Once a student has learned to play the alto or tenor |
| to Mr. Sax's original invention until it has evolved into the | | | | saxophone, it is usually fairly simple to move between |
| smooth handling instrument we have today. The | | | | the instruments in the saxophone family provided you |
| original saxophone keys were very basic and simple | | | | understand the theory of transposition instruments and |
| but that made some of the passages difficult to play | | | | how that functions between the kinds of saxophones |
| because of the way the fingering worked on the keys | | | | available. |
| of the saxophone. Therefore, those improvements | | | | If you want a smooth sounding instrument that lends |
| have added quality and simplicity to the instrument | | | | itself to many different musical styles, you will not go |
| allowing saxophonists to be able to play difficult | | | | wrong in learning to play the saxophone. Start with the |
| passages of music with relative ease. | | | | alto or tenor sax, learn the notes and the way to hold |
| The timbre of the saxophone, while originally intended | | | | and play the instrument. From there, you will be able to |
| as an orchestral instrument, lends itself, however, to | | | | move to other types of saxophones, should you desire |
| many different types of music. Because of its intended | | | | to do so. As it is, when you learn to play the sax, you |
| and achieved musical versatility, the sax is a great | | | | will have an ability that will wow your friends and give |
| instrument for jazz and blues music as well as rock | | | | you great pleasure at being able to pick up and play |
| and roll and big band music. Its size also makes it very | | | | some of your favorite orchestral, jazz, or blues tunes |
| easy for instrumentalists in marching bands to handle. | | | | anytime you wish. |
| The military band personnel play for many different | | | | |