Saxophones are a very popular instrument, having uses in many genres of music, from Classical to Jazz and Rock. Saxophones are often featured in “big band” music.”Big Band” music often features the saxophone. The typical “big band” sax section consists of two altos, two tenors, and a baritone. Players typically double on other woodwind instruments in the saxophone section.

Here are a music lesson plan
ideas for learning the names of the saxophone family. Students can be divided into groups of four Left over students can be incorporated into groups of five. Within each group students can then arrange themselves by height, and then make cards or labels for a saxophone corresponding to their size – soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone (groups of five can continue onto bass saxophone). In other words, the shortest student will be the soprano saxophone, the next smallest the alto saxophone, and so on.

This activity could be repeated with other attributes like shoe size, length of hair and birthday if you wished.

If the students can read notes, distribute pieces of paper with single notes on them, and ask the students in each group to arrange the notes from lowest to highest and match them to the appropriate saxophones.

Students may respond to completing some of these tasks without speaking for a quieter classroom and an extra challenge.

An excellent piece of listening featuring the saxophone can be found in: World Saxophone Quartet, Metamorphosis album. Elektra Nonesuch 9 79258-2

Saxophones are a very popular instrument, having uses in many genres of music, from Classical to Jazz and Rock. Saxophones are often featured in “big band” music.”Big Band” music often features the saxophone. The typical “big band” sax section consists of two altos, two tenors, and a baritone. Players typically double on other woodwind instruments in the saxophone section.

Learning the names of the saxophone family is easy with these ideas. Divide students into groups of four. Distribute any remainders into other groups to make a few groups of five. Ask students to arrange themselves by height within each group, and then make cards or labels for a saxophone corresponding to their size – baritone, tenor, alto and soprano saxophone (continuing on to bass saxophone for groups of five). Therefore the tallest student will be the baritone or bass saxophone, the next largest the tenor, etc

This activity could be repeated with other attributes like shoe size, length of hair and birthday if you wished.

If the students can read notes, distribute pieces of paper with single notes on them, and ask the students in each group to arrange the notes from lowest to highest and match them to the appropriate saxophones.

For an extra challenge and a quieter classroom, have the students complete some of these tasks without speaking. This is a great aspect to a music lesson plan.

Suggested Listening:Maurice Ravel, Boléro. This work features a tenor saxophone solo at about 5:15 (seventh repetition of the melody) and a soprano saxophone solo at about 6:05 (eighth repetition).

A popular instrument these days is the Saxophone. It has uses from Jazz to Classical and Rock music. Saxophones are often featured in “big band” music.”Big Band” music often features the saxophone. Two alto saxophones, two tenors and one baritone typically make up the saxophone section Any of the saxophonists may double on other woodwind instruments

Here are a few ideas for learning the names of the saxophone family. Divide students into groups of four. Distribute any remainders into other groups to make a few groups of five. Within each group students can then arrange themselves by height, and then make cards or labels for a saxophone corresponding to their size – baritone, tenor, alto and soprano saxophone (continuing on to bass saxophone for groups of five). In other words, the shortest student will be the soprano saxophone, the next smallest the alto saxophone, and so on.

Repeat the exercise with other attributes – birthday, shoe size, length of hair, etc.

To combine this with a music theory activity you could create some flashcards with single pitches on them, and ask them to match them to appropriate saxophones.

For an extra challenge and a quieter classroom, have the students complete some of these tasks without speaking.

Suggested Listening:Duke Ellington, Three Suites album. Sony / BMG Custom Marketing Group 723866. This Contains a big-band jazz arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker Suite.