MCCLELLAND COLLEGE MUSIC DEPARTMENT
  • Home
  • Why study music?
  • Classroom Program
  • Instruments on offer
    • Brass >
      • Trumpet
      • French Horn
      • Trombone
      • Euphonium
      • Tuba
    • Woodwind >
      • Flute
      • Oboe
      • Bassoon
      • Clarinet
      • Saxophone
    • Strings >
      • Violin
      • Viola
      • Cello
      • Double Bass
      • Bass Guitar
    • Percussion
    • Voice
  • Staff
    • Eric Budd - Head of Music (Brass and Woodwind)
    • Emma Avery (Voice)
    • Gideon Marcus (Percussion)
    • Michelle Cleland (Clarinet and Bass Guitar)
    • Vicki Shen (Strings)
    • Calysta Morgan (Classroom)
    • Samantha Clough (Flute and Oboe)
  • How to enrol
  • Ensembles
    • Ensemble Timetable
    • Small Ensembles >
      • Flute Ensemble
      • Clarinet Ensemble
      • Saxophone Ensemble
      • Brass Ensemble
      • Trombone Ensemble
      • Percussion Ensemble
      • Senior String Ensemble
    • Large Ensembles >
      • Choir
      • Junior String Ensemble
      • Junior Band
      • Intermediate Band
      • Concert Band
      • Stage Band
  • Gallery
  • Members Only
    • Join the McClelland Facebook group
    • Submit Music Practice Report
    • Ensemble Sheet Music >
      • Junior Band
      • Intermediate Band
      • Concert Band
      • Stage Band
      • Choir Music
    • Resources >
      • VCE Music Resources
      • Music store links
      • Fingering Charts
      • Scales (All Instruments)
      • Links and Practice help
  • Handbook
Picture
Saxophone
The saxophone is a member of the woodwind family even though
it is made almost entirely of metal. The sound is produced by a vibrating single reed which is the same sound producing method as a clarinet. The clarinet and saxophone are similar in many ways. Many beginning students may not have a willingness to pay the higher price of a saxophone. Others may not have hands large enough to fit around the saxophone keys. Those students may
start with a clarinet and switch to the saxophone at a later date.

All instruments are members of a small family of instruments that come in various shapes and sizes. The saxophone family has basically four members. The Bb (B flat) soprano, Eb alto, Bb tenor and Eb baritone saxophones are all widely used. The most popular and best beginning instrument is the Eb alto saxophone. A student with very large hands can succeed with a Bb tenor saxophone but alto is usually preferred. The soprano and baritone saxophones are played by advanced players who probably started out with an alto saxophone.

The saxophone is a very widely used instrument. They play a critical role in bands, jazz groups and small instrumental groups. It’s a relatively new instrument compared to others. It is especially common to see a number of saxophones of various sizes in jazz groups. Professional jazz saxophonists tend to play more than one saxophone. They may own and perform on the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones as well as the flute and clarinet.


  • Home
  • Why study music?
  • Classroom Program
  • Instruments on offer
    • Brass >
      • Trumpet
      • French Horn
      • Trombone
      • Euphonium
      • Tuba
    • Woodwind >
      • Flute
      • Oboe
      • Bassoon
      • Clarinet
      • Saxophone
    • Strings >
      • Violin
      • Viola
      • Cello
      • Double Bass
      • Bass Guitar
    • Percussion
    • Voice
  • Staff
    • Eric Budd - Head of Music (Brass and Woodwind)
    • Emma Avery (Voice)
    • Gideon Marcus (Percussion)
    • Michelle Cleland (Clarinet and Bass Guitar)
    • Vicki Shen (Strings)
    • Calysta Morgan (Classroom)
    • Samantha Clough (Flute and Oboe)
  • How to enrol
  • Ensembles
    • Ensemble Timetable
    • Small Ensembles >
      • Flute Ensemble
      • Clarinet Ensemble
      • Saxophone Ensemble
      • Brass Ensemble
      • Trombone Ensemble
      • Percussion Ensemble
      • Senior String Ensemble
    • Large Ensembles >
      • Choir
      • Junior String Ensemble
      • Junior Band
      • Intermediate Band
      • Concert Band
      • Stage Band
  • Gallery
  • Members Only
    • Join the McClelland Facebook group
    • Submit Music Practice Report
    • Ensemble Sheet Music >
      • Junior Band
      • Intermediate Band
      • Concert Band
      • Stage Band
      • Choir Music
    • Resources >
      • VCE Music Resources
      • Music store links
      • Fingering Charts
      • Scales (All Instruments)
      • Links and Practice help
  • Handbook