6 Best Online Saxophone Lessons and Classes [Updated June 2023]

Best Online Saxophone Lessons and Classes

 

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato

 

Being able to play a musical instrument is a liberating experience as it helps you to express your talent and emotions; it allows you to switch off from the worldly troubles for some time, helps you focus, and being able to play such a sophisticated instrument gives you a ‘cool’ tag too.

 

The saxophone is one of the most versatile and vocal sounding musical instruments that can fit into any genre. Even though it may not be the easiest instrument to handle but with enough practice and a passion to learn, it may not be that difficult after all.

 

If you have an affinity for jazz or classical music and have been contemplating learning to play saxophone yourself, taking sax lessons online is the best way forward. Taking private lessons is not only a costly affair but you also need to be able to spare time out of your schedule. On the other hand, taking online saxophone lessons gives you the flexibility of learning as per your convenience and also at a fraction of the cost.

 

We understand that selecting the right course to learn a musical instrument can be daunting. To put you at ease and to get you started with your sax lessons online, we at TrumpLearning, along with 12 saxophone experts, bring you a list of best online saxophone course curated from some of the top online learning portals. Put on your learning hat and enroll in one of these best online saxophone classes to begin your musical journey.

 

6 Best Sax Lessons, Classes & Courses Online:

  1. Learn to Play Saxophone: Beginner to Pro in Under Four Hours [Udemy]
  2. The Complete Beginner Saxophone Course [Udemy]
  3. Beginner Alto Saxophone Lessons [Udemy]
  4. Getting Started with Saxophone [Sax School]
  5. Jazz Saxophone with Eric Marienthal [ArtistWorks]
  6. Master the Saxophone: Intermediate Instruction Made Simple! [Udemy]
Learn to Play Saxophone: Beginner to Pro in Under Four Hours [Udemy]

 

About this course

The first course in our list of online saxophone lessons is a beginner’s course on Udemy. This course will support you through the entire journey of becoming an avid player right from holding your saxophone for the first time to playing your first melody. It covers in detail the technical knowledge within a few hours that is equivalent to one year of personal training that a student needs to undergo to become an excellent saxophonist. In addition to the online saxophone lessons on the playing techniques, this course will also teach you about the music theory and musicianship skills.

 

Some of the USPs of this one of the best online saxophone course are:

 

  • It contains 77 online videos divided into ten sections
  • Offers 114 downloadable resources including sheet music and animated fingering charts
  • Has the best saxophone equipment recommendations
  • Contains lessons on a handful of familiar melodies and songs
  • Provides technique-building and Major scales and scale exercises

 

The duration of these online saxophone classes is approx. four hours. These sax lessons online have been curated by Music Professor, an online music education company that provides pre-recorded, high-quality online saxophone lessons created by some of the best talents and faculty in the country. This course has been tagged as a bestseller with a rating of 4.4; hence you can be assured that you will get some of the best online saxophone lessons throughout this course. You can avail of this course by paying a one-time fee which is also protected by Udemy’s money-back guarantee. Purchasing this saxophone course online will give you full lifetime access to the course material as well as a certificate of completion that you can flaunt on your social media profiles. This online course has already been enrolled by 5727 students.

 

What will you learn?

As already mentioned that this is one of the best online saxophone course for beginners, the skills covered in the curriculum include:

 

  • The different parts of a saxophone, how to assemble them
  • How to correctly hold  the instrument and breathing techniques
  • How to care for a saxophone and troubleshoot problems with the instrument
  • How to form  a correct and strong saxophone embouchure
  • Ways to read and interpret music notations
  • How to perform multiple notes and scales
  • What are slurring and tonguing techniques

 

Requirements for this course

The basic requirements for these online saxophone lessons include:

 

  • A  working Alto Saxophone, which the best moderate-sized saxophone for beginners
  • Saxophone reeds that are placed along with the mouthpiece
  • A neck strap to hold your saxophone in place

 

Who should take this course?

These online saxophone lessons are ideal for:

 

  • Beginners with absolutely no knowledge of the saxophone
  • Students and adult learners who wish to refresh their skills
  • Music students who cannot afford or don’t have time for private lessons

 

Reviews by Garry Unger
This was an excellent beginner course, explaining and showing the most important "how to" items to be able to successfully learn to play. The instructor is very knowledgeable and informative. "He knows his stuff".

 


The Complete Beginner Saxophone Course [Udemy]

 

About this course

Those of you in search of the best online saxophone course for beginners can opt for these comprehensive sax classes. The online saxophone lessons in the course will teach you your very first notes that you will play on your instrument and will soon transform you into a captivating performer.  The online saxophone classes in this course will equip you with the practical and theoretical knowledge of using a saxophone and by the end of this course, you will be able to play more than 16 saxophone works with backtracks.

 

These online lessons have been divided into nine sections that contain 63 on-demand video lectures. The duration of these classes is five and a half hours. Besides the video sax lessons online, the instructor has also provided 57 downloadable resources that include more than 20 backing tracks for practice, making the lessons one of the best online saxophone lessons.

 

The instructor of these online saxophone classes is Karin Kroch, a musician, educator, and composer with an impressive playing and recording career of more than 18 years. This saxophone course online has a rating of 4.8 on Udemy with 399 students on board. If you wish to enroll for these sax lessons online, you can do so by paying a fee which is miniscule when compared to the cost of a private tutor. Purchasing this course will also give you a certificate of completion and full lifetime access to the online saxophone lessons; so you can come back to any of the videos anytime to refresh your learning.

 

What will you learn?

The classes here are the best online saxophone lessons that have a great mix of theory and practice. The skills that you will acquire in these classes include:

 

  • Assembling, caring for, and maintaining a saxophone
  • Breathing techniques, embouchure, and hand position
  • Pitch – playing low and high notes, left hand and right hand notes
  • How to read music notations and the note values
  • The clef, the key signature, and the time signature
  • Difference  between a rhythm and a beat
  • Three main types of rests
  • Concept of sharps and flats
  • The octave key and how to control it
  • Recognize and play the eight notes on the saxophone
  • Articulation and dynamics – slurring and tonguing, how to read articulation
  • Play famous melodies including classical and pop

 

Requirements for this course

The three basic requirements for these online saxophone classes are:

 

  • An Alto saxophone
  • Neck strap or sling
  • Alto saxophone reeds – strength 1 or 1.5

 

Who should take this course?

This is the best online saxophone course for:

 

  • Individuals with no prior knowledge or experience in music
  • Saxophonists who may have some knowledge in music
  • Piano players who wish to learn an orchestral instrument

 

Reviews by Vishal Sagar
Her way of teaching the sax is unique. I bought the sax 2 years back but couldn't find a good teacher then finally I found Karin on Udemy. I would say she is the best teacher. After completing this course I am able to play the saxophone. Thank you so much Karin. You are really an awesome teacher. Thanks for this course. Stay blessed.

 


Beginner Alto Saxophone Lessons [Udemy]

 

About this course

While most of the best online saxophone classes take the traditional route of teaching how to play the saxophone by sticking to the instructions, the creator of this saxophone course online believes in playing by the ear. These classes have been designed in such a way that they can be used independently to learn sax from scratch or can be used as supportive lessons if you are taking private tuitions. In addition to the online saxophone lessons, this course also includes downloadable MP3 files to use as backing tracks and PDFs that you can printout and use while practicing.

 

We have included this course in our list of best online saxophone course as there is no age limit to enroll for these online saxophone lessons. The instructor strongly believes that whether you are 10 years old or 100 years old, it is never too late to take your first sax lessons online. What makes this course different than other sax classes is that the focus here is more on playing than being able to read music. By the end of this course you will be able to play several scales and songs, and also have clarity on whether or not you have it in you and if you should pursue playing saxophone in the future.

 

This four-hour-long online saxophone course has been divided into five sections that consist of 24 video online saxophone classes which can be accessed both on a mobile or TV. The instructor of these sax lessons online, Mathew, believes in inspiring students to be musicians rather than just an instrument player. This course has a rating of 4.8 and has already been enrolled by 922 students. You can register for the best online saxophone lessons here with a single payment that is also covered by Udemy’s no questions asked 30-days money-back guarantee. By undertaking these lessons you will also secure a digital certificate and full lifetime access to this course.

 

What will you learn?

The topics covered in this beginner’s saxophone course online are:

 

  • Correct placement, height, and adjustment of the neck strap
  • The right way  to attach the reed to  the mouthpiece
  • Assembling a saxophone
  • Embouchure and the use of the tongue
  • Caring for and handling the saxophone
  • Playing different Major scales
  • Playing long notes and breathing techniques
  • How to play popular songs on the saxophone

 

Requirements for this course

Besides having an Alto saxophone at your disposal for these online saxophone lessons, you must also have:

 

  • The enthusiasm to learn
  • A belief in music and that it is actually a lot of fun
  • You may or may not have prior knowledge of reading music as this course will teach you to play by listening to music.

 

Who should take this course?

Anyone, irrespective of their age, is eligible to take these sax lessons online. Future aspiring Rockstars and jazz musicians can also begin their learning with these saxophone classes.

 

Reviews by Mark Winham
Matthew is a great teacher and I come on leaps and bounds with learning my saxophone.

 


Getting Started with Saxophone [Sax School]

 

About this course

Our list of best online saxophone course would have been incomplete without a free saxophone online course. Fitting this criterion aptly is this free mini-course by the McGill Music Sax School.  This saxophone online course will teach you the basics of saxophone step-by-step with learn-as-you-watch sax lessons online.

 

These are some of the best online saxophone lessons that you can have for free as you will be taught by Nigel McGill who has an experience of more than 30 years and has played in bands, festivals, and clubs all over the world. He is also the founder of the Sax School which is the largest online community of saxophone learners in the world. By undertaking these sax lessons online you will be well equipped to play from memory and ear and would not have to read music to play your favorite melodies.

 

This free saxophone course online for beginners consists of 11 online saxophone lessons that you can access simply by signing up on their website.

 

What will you learn?

These online saxophone classes will teach you:

 

  • How to assemble the mouthpiece and attach the reed
  • The correct way of holding a saxophone
  • How to create sounds
  • How to play different notes
  • The technique of tonguing
  • The second octave
  • How to play on an Alto and Tenor saxophones
  • Playing the theme from ‘Rocky’

 

Who should take this course?

Anyone who wishes to learn the saxophone with no previous knowledge can begin with these free sax lessons online.

 


Jazz Saxophone with Eric Marienthal [ArtistWorks]

 

About this course

This saxophone course online is another gem amongst the best online saxophone lessons. Every aspiring jazz musician dreams of learning under the guidance of industry veterans and knowing about their experiences in the industry. But let’s get real, unless you have great contacts, getting to even meet them is a distant dream. If you have been searching for an online course on saxophone taught by a popular musician, look no further.

 

The instructor of these sax lessons online for jazz is none other than Eric Marienthal, the Grammy® award-winning jazz saxophone musician. He has even performed with some of the biggest names in the music industry such as Elton John, Barbara Streisand, Billy Joel, and Stevie Wonder. Hence, getting to learn from Eric would surely be an enriching experience.

 

The biggest selling point of these online saxophone lessons is that you get personal feedback from the mentor that is mostly lacking in other online saxophone classes. By enrolling for this course you can record and submit five videos for review by using the ArtistWorks Video Exchange Learning® platform provided in this course. The instructor takes the time and effort to review each submission and records a video in response to give specific guidance to each student. All these videos are uploaded in the Video Exchange library which you can access to watch other student’s interactions with the mentor and improve from the feedback. This personalized learning makes this course one of the best online saxophone lessons.

 

Besides the above top feature, this online course includes more than 100 video sax lessons online, saxophone jazz charts, multiple backing tracks, and other support study materials. You can also watch the videos in slow motion or in a loop to learn saxophone at your own pace.

 

These online saxophone classes can be subscribed to by opting for different monthly plans – 3, 6, and 12 months plan. Taking a subscription will give you unlimited access to the online lectures, the video exchange library, and the music theory workshop. This course, however, will not provide any certificate of completion.

 

What you will learn?

In this saxophone course online, you will learn about the different scales and modes, undergo ear training, learn improvisation, and learn to play sax for jazz.  The lessons in this course have been divided into five sections as follows:

 

Module 1 – The basics of saxophone
  • Choosing the right saxophone – care and maintenance
  • Choosing a mouthpiece and reeds
  • Hand and neck strap positions
  • Embouchure and tonguing
  • Fingering and reading basics
  • Introduction to chords and improvisation
  • Basic ear training

 

Module 2 – Intermediate saxophone skills
  • Eric’s secret warm-up exercises
  • Playing scales in all keys
  • Introduction to Modes
  • Jazz inflections and using vibrato

 

Module 3 – Advanced saxophone techniques
  • Improvising techniques
  • Advanced soloing using different modes
  • Correct  tonguing – reverse and muted tonguing
  • Phrasing a melody
  • Different ways to play scales
  • Trick licks
  • Finger twister exercises
  • Improvisation: Advanced Blues
  • Playing high notes

 

Module 4 – Weekly exercises archive

 

Module 5 – Weekly licks archive

 

Requirements for this course

Access to a computer to watch the online sax classes and a saxophone (Alto, Tenor, or Soprano) are the only two requirements for this best online saxophone course.

 

Who should take this course?

New and existing sax players both will benefit immensely from this saxophone course online. The online saxophone classes are fit for all levels since each module covers sax techniques for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players.

 


Master the Saxophone: Intermediate Instruction Made Simple! [Udemy]

 

About this course

If you are already thorough with the basics of saxophone and wish to move ahead in your learning, this last saxophone course online in our list will help you undertake intermediate sax lessons online. The reason why we have included this course in the best online saxophone lessons is that this course has been created by MusicProfessor that is also offering the first bestseller course on our list. Hence, this course can act as a continuation of the first course. This course will help you learn more complex rhythms, scales and tones to improve your saxophone skills.

 

This online sax course consists of 89 video online saxophone lessons that have been classified under ten sections.  The duration of these lessons is around four hours. Some of the salient features of these online saxophone classes are:

 

  • More than 100 downloadable sheet music and animated fingering charts
  • Best equipment recommendations
  • Quick troubleshooting tips
  • Learn several popular melodies and songs
  • Excellent technique-building exercises
  • Major scales and scale exercises
  • Learn about the music theory

 

This course has been rated a 4.6 and has already been enrolled by 1844 students. You can avail of this course by paying a one-time fee on Udemy that is also backed by a 30-days money-back guarantee in case if you are not happy with the content. Purchasing this course will also entitle you to lifetime full access to all the online saxophone lessons. To add another feather to your cap, once you complete all the video lessons and exercises prescribed here, you will also receive a digital certificate of completion.

 

What you will learn?

By undertaking this last course in our list of best online saxophone course, you will learn:

 

  • Dotted quarter and eight notes
  • Notes in the highest range
  • New scales like the Blues scale and new tempo for playing music on a saxophone
  • How to form the perfect embouchure – review
  • Read complex rhythms and meters like 6/8, 16th notes, triplets, and cut time
  • Play expressively with phrasing, dynamics, and vibrato
  • New musical concepts like tempo markings and accents, and Arpeggios
  • Learn strength-building exercised to play for longer periods without fatigue

 

Requirements for this course

The technical requirements of this best online saxophone course for intermediate learners are:

 

  • Working knowledge and access to an Alto saxophone
  • Saxophone reeds
  • A neck strap or string
  • Thorough understanding of the basic music theory and notations

 

Who should take this course?

Some of the common enrollees of this saxophone course online are:

 

  • Adult saxophonists and intermediate learners
  • Advanced students who wish to refresh their skills
  • Sax students who want to advance from the basic skills
  • Music students who cannot afford or can't hire a private sax tutor

 

Reviews by Philip Botha
Great course again! I really enjoyed it and yes, some pieces not on tempo yet but that will come with practice. OK, some audio and sheet music not corresponding but I understood the concepts. Looking forward to the next course!

 


Conclusion

The undying love for Jazz and Blues has made saxophone one of the most timeless pieces to hear and play. Since it is also a highly versatile instrument, it can easily find a place in any genre of music thus improving your chances of a fulfilling career that is if you wish to step into the music industry. Also, it is a comparatively easier woodwind instrument that you can learn compared to the other instruments of an orchestra. Getting comfortable with a saxophone also makes it easier to learn other woodwind instruments such as clarinet and flute. In fact, knowing how to play the saxophone or any instrument for that matter instills confidence in oneself. Your memory and motor functions improve and you learn perseverance as a life skill. On that note, we wish to conclude our list of online saxophone lessons. We at TrumpLearning wish you all the best as you begin learning the saxophone by enrolling for one of the best online saxophone lessons here.

 

` Best Online Saxophone Lessons and Classes Reviewed by 12 Saxophone Experts 4.4
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