THE INSTRUMENTS

Saxophone

Building musicians one note at a time

Overview

The Saxophone is a distinctive woodwind instrument known for its powerful, brassy sound and curved, metal body.

Despite being made of metal, it is classified as a woodwind because sound is produced by blowing across a single reed attached to the mouthpiece. The Alto Saxophone is the most common size for school bands, and it is a key instrument in jazz, popular music, and concert bands.

The Tenor Saxophone is also an important member of the saxophone family producing a lower sound than the smaller Alto Saxophone. It has a rich sound that fills the middle of the band. Students with suitably sized hands are typically recommended for this instrument.

How To Assemble

Body, neck, mouthpiece.

  • Put the neck strap on first, and clip it to the saxophone for support before attaching anything else.
  • Attach the neck to the body and tighten the neck screw.
  • Fit the reed to the mouthpiece, tip aligned with the tip of the mouthpiece, and hold it in place with the ligature.
  • Gently twist the mouthpiece onto the neck cork.

How to Put On A Reed

  • Loosen the ligature screws so the ligature can slide freely up and down the mouthpiece.
  • Moisten the reed first — hold the tip in your mouth for 30–60 seconds, or dip it in a small cup of water, until it feels flexible rather than stiff.
  • Slide the reed onto the mouthpiece under the ligature, with the flat side of the reed against the flat table of the mouthpiece.
  • Position the tip of the reed just below the tip of the mouthpiece — you should see a tiny sliver of the black mouthpiece tip above the reed. Too high and the reed won’t respond; too low and it’ll be hard to blow.
  • Check the reed is centred, with an even strip of the mouthpiece rail visible on both sides.
  • Slide the ligature down so it sits just below the reed’s bark (the darker, rounded part at the base) — it shouldn’t cover the thin scraped section further up.
  • Tighten the ligature screws gently and evenly, just enough to hold the reed still. Overtightening can affect the sound and crack the reed.

Care Instructions

  • Swab the body and neck after every use with a pull-through swab to remove moisture.
  • Wipe down the body and keys with a soft, dry cloth to prevent tarnishing.
  • Remove the reed after playing, wipe it dry, and store it in a reed guard.
  • Loosen the ligature slightly during storage.
  • Store the neck separately in the case to avoid bent receivers.
  • Have it professionally serviced periodically to keep the pads sealing properly.

Reed Care

● Always remove the reed after playing — never leave it sitting on the mouthpiece, as it can warp out of shape.
● Wipe the reed dry with a soft cloth or tissue before putting it away.
● Store reeds flat in a proper reed case or reed guard, not loose in an instrument case or pocket, to stop them warping or chipping.
● Rotate between two or three reeds rather than relying on just one — giving each reed time to dry out and rest between uses makes them last much longer.
● Handle reeds by the thicker end (the bark), not the thin tip, to avoid chipping the delicate scraped section.
● A reed usually lasts a few weeks of regular playing. If the sound turns dull or hard to produce, or the tip looks chipped or discoloured, it's time for a new one.
● Keep a couple of spare reeds on hand — a chipped reed shouldn't mean missing a rehearsal.
● Reeds are a natural cane product, so avoid leaving them somewhere very hot, cold, or humid.


Care Instructions

  • Swab the body and neck after every use with a pull-through swab to remove moisture.
  • Wipe down the body and keys with a soft, dry cloth to prevent tarnishing.
  • Remove the reed after playing, wipe it dry, and store it in a reed guard.
  • Loosen the ligature slightly during storage.
  • Store the neck separately in the case to avoid bent receivers.
  • Have it professionally serviced periodically to keep the pads sealing properly.

Overview

Attending one to one piano lessons at The London Piano Institute is undoubtedly the most efficient way for an adult to make rapid progress and benefit from a highly personalised piano instruction. Thanks to the remarkable experience that our piano instructors have in the field of adult piano education, you can be assured to benefit from a piano course that suits your specific needs and wishes, whatever your current pianistic abilities.

need to know

Attending one to one piano lessons at The London Piano Institute is undoubtedly the most efficient way for an adult to make rapid progress and benefit from a highly personalised piano instruction. Thanks to the remarkable experience that our piano instructors have in the field of adult piano education, you can be assured to benefit from a piano course that suits your specific needs and wishes, whatever your current pianistic abilities.

One to one piano lessons

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  • Attend a unique piano course – Tailored to your distinct request and abilities
  • Choose your favourite music style – Study classical, jazz, blues, pop or rock piano
  • Enjoy an exceptional piano education – Learn with highly qualified and experienced piano instructors
  • Benefit from the support of an expert – Study with an extremely encouraging piano tutor
  • Attend your piano lessons at your convenience – Book your weekly piano lessons on a suitable day and time

Requirements for playing bass guitar in band

Attending one to one piano lessons at The London Piano Institute is undoubtedly the most efficient way for an adult to make rapid progress and benefit from a highly personalised piano instruction. Thanks to the remarkable experience that our piano instructors have in the field of adult piano education, you can be assured to benefit from a piano course that suits your specific needs and wishes, whatever your current pianistic abilities.

One to one piano lessons

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

  • Attend a unique piano course – Tailored to your distinct request and abilities
  • Choose your favourite music style – Study classical, jazz, blues, pop or rock piano
  • Enjoy an exceptional piano education – Learn with highly qualified and experienced piano instructors
  • Benefit from the support of an expert – Study with an extremely encouraging piano tutor
  • Attend your piano lessons at your convenience – Book your weekly piano lessons on a suitable day and time

Instrument Requirements

Attending one to one piano lessons at The London Piano Institute is undoubtedly the most efficient way for an adult to make rapid progress and benefit from a highly personalised piano instruction. Thanks to the remarkable experience that our piano instructors have in the field of adult piano education, you can be assured to benefit from a piano course that suits your specific needs and wishes, whatever your current pianistic abilities.

One to one piano lessons

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

  • Attend a unique piano course – Tailored to your distinct request and abilities
  • Choose your favourite music style – Study classical, jazz, blues, pop or rock piano
  • Enjoy an exceptional piano education – Learn with highly qualified and experienced piano instructors
  • Benefit from the support of an expert – Study with an extremely encouraging piano tutor
  • Attend your piano lessons at your convenience – Book your weekly piano lessons on a suitable day and time

Need To Know

Attending one to one piano lessons at The London Piano Institute is undoubtedly the most efficient way for an adult to make rapid progress and benefit from a highly personalised piano instruction. Thanks to the remarkable experience that our piano instructors have in the field of adult piano education, you can be assured to benefit from a piano course that suits your specific needs and wishes, whatever your current pianistic abilities.

One to one piano lessons

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

  • Attend a unique piano course – Tailored to your distinct request and abilities
  • Choose your favourite music style – Study classical, jazz, blues, pop or rock piano
  • Enjoy an exceptional piano education – Learn with highly qualified and experienced piano instructors
  • Benefit from the support of an expert – Study with an extremely encouraging piano tutor
  • Attend your piano lessons at your convenience – Book your weekly piano lessons on a suitable day and time
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