- One-to-one lessons at the school
- Learn for fun or work towards grades
- Children and adults welcome
What saxophone lessons involve
Most beginners start on the alto saxophone, which is the most common size and the easiest to handle. Early lessons cover putting the instrument together, fitting the reed, and forming the embouchure, which is how your mouth sits around the mouthpiece. Then it’s breath support and getting a full, even tone, which is what makes a saxophone sound like a saxophone.
Once the basics are in place, you work on reading music, scales, articulation and the pieces you want to play. The saxophone is at home in jazz, pop, funk, soul and rock as much as in classical music, and many players enjoy learning to improvise as they progress.
Who saxophone lessons suit
Saxophone suits teenagers and adults especially well, and children can start once they can hold the instrument comfortably and reach the keys. Many adults take it up having always wanted to play, or come back to it after years away. If you already play clarinet or flute, you’ll find a lot of the fingering familiar.
It’s also a good choice if you want to play with other people. Saxophonists are welcome in bands of almost every style.
Grades, if you want them
Saxophone grade exams run from Grade 1 to Grade 8 with the main exam boards, and Grades 6 to 8 carry UCAS points. They’re optional. Every lesson is planned around the student, so you can follow a grade syllabus or focus on the songs and styles you love.
Lessons at our school in Thornaby
When saxophone lessons are running, they take place one-to-one in our purpose-built teaching studios in Thornaby, at our standard price of £18 for 30 minutes or £36 for an hour. It’s pay as you go, with no contract or term fees. Lessons are by appointment, Monday to Thursday between 3pm and 9:30pm, with free parking at the rear and a bus stop outside the door.
Register your interest
We don’t have a saxophone teacher on the timetable at the moment. If you’d like lessons, get in touch and we’ll let you know when they’re available.