Here are a few Lesson Plan Ideas that can help your students learn about the saxophone in their music class.
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. The typical “big band” sax section consists of two altos, two tenors, and a baritone. Any of the saxophonists may double on other woodwind instruments
Learning the names of the saxophone family is easy with these ideas. Divide students into groups of four. Left over students can be incorporated into 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 – soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone 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.
To combine this with a music theory activity to make a full music lesson plan
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: Michael Kamen, Concerto for Saxophone. Warner Brothers Records 226157
