When you want to learn to play the saxophone or take your playing to the next level, in addition to traditional lessons with a teacher, you can try online lessons. Compared to private lessons, online classes have the advantage of practicing whenever you want and determining the pace and content of the exercise yourself. This article will discover the best online saxophone lessons that have helped thousands of sax players achieve their goals.
Read also: How To Learn Saxophone From Scratch? (5 Easy Tips)
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As we mentioned above, the main advantages of online music lessons are time flexibility and many times lower costs compared to a music teacher. Whether you play tenor or alto saxophone, you can take a variety of saxophone classes in the comfort of your own home that will explain proper technique, tongue pressure and mouthpiece, finger position, and articulation, and provide instruction on how to play familiar saxophone parts from the sheet music.Â
On the other hand, traditional private saxophone classes may suit more students because of the opportunity for interaction with the teacher and expert guidance. The tutor can set up lessons individually according to the student’s abilities and preferences.Â
The happy medium is to take online classes with an instructor of your choice. In this case, you do not have to travel for saxophone lessons, but you must keep to the time agreed with the teacher. Lessons via Skype are available and several websites where you can choose a teacher according to several criteria.
Most of the courses mentioned in this text offer free saxophone lessons or free trials, so you can test to see if your chosen method suits you.
We start our list with a well-known platform offering quality video lessons from renowned musicians. ArtistWorks offers a top-notch online course, Jazz Saxophone with Eric Marienthal. Although it includes lessons for beginners, we recommend it mainly for players who already have some experience playing the tenor saxophone. Advanced players will also find plenty of inspiration here.
Nearly 100 lessons from a top saxophonist are packed with information that will direct your practice to acquire important saxophone skills. Important for Jazz saxophone playing are specific figures, scales, arpeggio, jazz harmony, blues phrases, and of course improvisation. Eric Marienthal will easily guide you through this with his natural learning style.
Although Truefire is a platform focused on teaching guitar, you’ll also find two great tenor saxophone courses from Bill Evans.
Besides being a legendary jazz saxophonist, he’s also a great teacher who can motivate you to learn specific skills with his approach. He will teach you how to build motifs, use blue notes, chromaticism, jazz improvisation, and phrasing, and gain correct intonation, breathing, and pressing techniques. These courses will be especially appreciated by intermediate players and jazz music lovers. They are available for a lifetime affordable price.
If you’re looking to learn how to play saxophone using via iPad, Android device, or through a web browser, you should consider Cambridge saxophone. While many online courses focus on jazz, with Cambridge saxophone you can also learn to play pop and rock melodies. The site offers individual courses as well as long-term membership-based access. Before starting, we recommend watching the video “How to use this website“, which will introduce you to all its possibilities.
In addition to the beginner saxophone course, you can learn sight-reading, theory, tone creation, and improvisation. Cambridge Saxophone also offers consultation lessons directly with the teacher Dan Forshaw, who founded this site. He can give you great advice and recommend the method and content of practice.
As probably the most famous online educational platform, Udemy also offers several saxophone courses. Â You will find alto soprano, and tenor saxophone lessons for beginners and intermediates, as well as courses focused on a specific subject or genre. The quality of Udemy courses varies, so always be sure to filter courses based on the references of other students.
Read the Udemy saxophone courses review
Udemy saxophone courses alternative: Skillshare
If you want to learn to play saxophone in a fun and interactive way, we recommend trying the Tonestro app. Saxophone online lessons with this app can be especially suitable for younger beginning musicians. The application for iPad and Android tablets offers short lessons, a sheet music library, live feedback technology, and the possibility to learn to play pop songs and classical music as well.
In addition to saxophone, the app also includes lessons for other wind musical instruments, such as clarinet, trombone, tuba, flute, and recorder. We consider the application especially suitable if the saxophone is a new instrument for you and you want to diversify your lessons with the teacher with a new way of practicing.
McGill’s Sax School online lessons are designed for all skill levels, but mostly for beginners and intermediate. Nigel McGill is a great saxophone teacher and instructor who will guide you through the beginnings of playing this instrument. His lessons include instruction on how to practice effectively, improvise according to your ear, and play different repertoire. He will show you all the skills to learn step by step and in logical order.
You will also learn how to transpose melodies and play according to chords. You’ll play different blues, ska, jazz, and gospel songs, and if you want you can join the supportive online community.
If you are an intermediate saxophone player searching for online classes with a professional tutor, you shouldn’t miss the Playwithapro.com website. It offers online saxophone classes based on a personal approach with a customized learning path. The website will guide you to choose the perfect time and teacher for your classes. The platform offers a fair-price pre-lesson and has a good review rate from students.
If you’ve always wanted to learn to play the piano, the online world offers plenty of opportunities to turn your dreams into reality. However, it is important to choose a learning method that suits your time and personal preferences. While software and applications allow you to fully use your digital piano or keyboard thanks to interactive tools and visualization of what you are playing, you should not expect miracles from them. Progress always depends on your motivation and discipline and setting realistic goals. Online piano lessons with a specific teacher have the advantage of real-time interaction and a personal approach. So let’s summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the mentioned options:
I hope this article mapping out the best online sax lessons helped you navigate the options you have when you want to learn to play the sax online. Different learning methods suit different people, so it’s a good idea to take advantage of free lessons or a free trial and try the course before buying. if the article is useful for you, we will be happy if you share it on social networks. In conclusion, we wish you much success and fun on your musical journey and lots of patience and motivation in your learning 🙂
