If you’re music lesson plan
is studying woodwind instruments, then the saxophone is definitely one that you’d be wise to include
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 few ideas for learning the names of the saxophone family. Students can be divided 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 make labels or cards for the saxophone which corresponds to their size – baritone, tenor, alto and soprano 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.
Repeat the exercise with other attributes – birthday, shoe size, length of hair, etc.
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.
Suggested Listening:World Saxophone Quartet, Metamorphosis album. Elektra Nonesuch 9 79258-2
