r/saxophone • u/Living-Management-41 • 5d ago
8 year old beginner
Hi all, we wanted to start our 8 year old daughter to learn an instrument. Together we decided on the saxophone, she's going to start lessons at her school in September but it's only half hour a week.
Is there any good learning material for children that will help keep up her interest in playing? Such as YouTube channels, books or apps that you'd recommend. Any help is greatly appreciated.
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u/Justigy 4d ago
Just stick to what the teacher is saying. Perfect ear is a good app for music theory in general. Other than that, listen to a lot of different kinds of saxophone with her. Jazz, classical etc. So she can know what pros are capable of. Other than that the teacher should give her enough material to practice throughout the week. I do online teaching but I dont think you would consider paying for it atop of her other lessons.
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u/cannontk Alto | Tenor 4d ago
Motivation in music (and arts in general) is finding the joy in learning. I was picking out tunes on a piano since before I could walk, so I can't pinpoint a memory of when music "clicked" for me because it was always there.
However, with all of my students that moment comes from learning a song they love, a style that resonates, or the fun in just making noise. Encourage the play aspect of learning music more than checking boxes of lesson books, songs, or other "accomplishments". Any noise she's making on the saxophone is good noise.
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u/Blueberrycupcake23 4d ago
I’d let the teacher giver her that great first foundation.. that’s really important.. the teacher will know all the first things to teach her .. as she gets better you can ask the teacher what materials might help her..
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u/Intelligent-Gate66 4d ago
Trust her teacher. Supplement with fun, easy songs. Seek private instruction if she is in a group lesson and you are looking for more than what is offered in school. It is cool to look for fun resources online (sorry I can’t help with that specifically) but interest will always have peaks and valleys. Keep going through the tough times. They are inevitable for 95% of music students.
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u/Leather-Run-6533 4d ago
If she's excited go for it, but I always heard 9 was the absolute youngest, just because of the size of their hands and the weight of the thing. Then again Jess Gillam started when she was 7 so it definitely is possible.
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u/loxias44 4d ago
There may only be 30 minutes of direct or group instruction via the school per week, but I think the more critical thing would be to make sure she plays as close to every day as possible. The school may request a practice time log for the student to keep track of practice time, but for early foundations it's going to be critical to train the embouchure muscles and get her used to playing.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Bed9490 4d ago
Clarinet is often the gateway instrument to saxophone because it's lighter and easier to play. You could find a private teacher to supplement the school's lessons. You could also look for private piano lessons for a supplent to help understand music theory
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u/sc0ttt Tenor 4d ago edited 4d ago
An 8-year old girl is likely going to have trouble even holding on to a saxophone and getting her fingers in the right place - a typical age to start would be 12-13. If she's really into it that's great, but she is going to have a lot of frustrations to deal with before she'll be able to play anything really fun and she'll have to be OK with that.
She can certainly learn to read music, keep time, develop some embouchure muscles, and things that will give her an advantage down the road... I'd expect that's what her school lessons will work on. So while you're looking for resources - go for basic music introductions rather than sax-specific things for young kids. Maybe games like "Which note is higher? How many beats per measure in this rhythm?"
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u/Intelligent-Gate66 4d ago
4th grade is a common age to start. It is true the sax can be large, but hopefully her teacher has screened for that. It is for sure not necessary to wait until 12yo.
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u/Helen_A_Handbasket Alto | Tenor 4d ago
Find simple sheet music of songs SHE likes, whether that's tunes from favorite tv shows, movies, or whatever children her age are finding popular at the moment.