Beginners Questions

Saxophones are one of the most common instruments and contribute to many musical ensembles. Although they are common instruments, there is a lot of confusion about how to refer to saxophones! Are Saxophones Horns, Brass, Or Woodwinds? (Or All Three?) Saxophones are woodwinds, and most wind instruments are considered horns (therefore so are saxophones). While […]

The soprano saxophone is an integral part of many musical ensembles. With a beautiful tone and an ability to blend well with other sounds, it’s no question why you would want to learn how to master this instrument. Is Soprano Sax Difficult To Learn? The soprano saxophone is hard to play as the instrument requires

Saxophones have been around for centuries. They’re one of the most commonly appreciated instruments out there, and have been in all sorts of different types of music groups. But do they belong in band or orchestra? Saxophones do belong in both band and orchestra. However, while there are orchestras that include woodwinds, it’s not as

The tenor sax is a fun instrument to learn and has great versatility! You should be able to get up and running with the tenor sax within a few months, though it will take longer to build your breath support and learn to play complex music. My teenagers have switched to tenor sax recently so

When clarinetists are just getting started with their new instruments, they often encounter problems with their sound. (I made some of these mistakes myself when first starting out!) This article will help you troubleshoot sound problems that are common among beginning clarinetists. Some of these problems include a wet or “spitty” sound, a raspy or

The clarinet can be loud at times, but when the instrument is played well, it should not be overly disturbing to neighbors or family members. Generally, the clarinet has a light, warm, and pleasing tone, but the fact remains that many inexperienced clarinetists will experience a learning curve where their sound is difficult to listen

While most quality bass clarinets come with a decent package of cleaning and maintenance accessories, there are many other essentials that bass clarinetists should consider keeping on hand at all times. I usually carry most of these accessories with me when I travel to rehearsals or concerts, though some of them are meant for occasional

If you or your child plays the clarinet, you may be concerned about whether they can play their instrument with braces or other dental appliances like Invisalign. Fortunately, you can continue to play the clarinet in most of these situations! This article will answer some frequently asked questions about special circumstances that may occur while

Getting right to the point, is the clarinet an easy instrument to learn? Learning the clarinet as a beginner takes some time and dedication, but if you have the motivation to learn, you can teach yourself the basics. The clarinet is not as difficult as some other instruments like the oboe and trumpet, but there

Saxophones are highly versatile instruments that come in different shapes, sizes, and keys. Other instruments don’t have such a variety, so why do saxophones need to have different keys? Saxophones are in different keys because they are transposing instruments. Their differences in size make them produce different pitches. Assigning each type a key makes it