How to Find an
Exceptional Saxophone Teacher
The ultimate guide to choosing the best music instructor for your growth and enjoyment
Rose Park
2/15/23 • updated 8/25/25 • 4 min read
When you’re searching for a saxophone teacher, whether online or in person, it can be tough to figure out if they’re professional, friendly, and the right fit for you.
What should you look for when choosing a good saxophone teacher? Are there any qualifications, tips, or questions to ask when booking the first lesson?
Here is a list of ideas and considerations to make before signing up for saxophone lessons with your potential teacher.
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Get a professional saxophone teacher from the start
Meeting an experienced saxophone instructor early on can make a big difference in how quickly you progress and how strong your technique becomes. It’s not always about paying more for someone with impressive teaching credentials. Regardless of whether the saxophone teacher teaches lessons online, in-person, or through a hybrid approach, make sure that your potential teacher will:
- Customize your learning path with targeted exercises
- Inspire a love of music and genuine enjoyment
- Motivate you to challenge yourself and grow as a musician through performing
- Provide accurate and detailed live feedback
- Help broaden your repertoire
Many beginners and intermediate saxophonists start with a less expensive, less experienced teacher and later switch to a more seasoned instructor. While this might seem like a reasonable path, it can actually lead to setbacks. Switching teachers after developing habits around posture, breathing, technique, or tone often creates confusion and can take years to correct.
Every saxophone teacher is unique and puts a different amount of emphasis on lesson strategy. Some instructors focus heavily on the technical aspects of saxophone playing and prefer to work through one song at a time. Others may encourage students to learn several songs at once while exploring broader musicality.
Check the teacher's educational credentials
Degrees in Saxophone Performance
When possible, try to check the degree your potential teacher earned in college. The most qualified saxophone instructors usually hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in saxophone from verified music schools. Examples include Berklee College of Music and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Some teachers may list a certificate in saxophone, but it’s important to remember that this is not the same as earning a professional degree. In addition, degrees from fully online music schools are generally not recommended, as they often do not provide the same level of training and performance opportunities that traditional conservatories and universities offer.
- Are you majored in saxophone performance or non-saxophone fields?
- Do you have a Bachelor’s degree in saxophone?
- Do you have a certificate or college degree in saxophone?
- Did you take any courses in composition, music education, music theory or music history?
For Parents: If you are looking for a saxophone teacher for your child, you might begin with someone who majored in music education with a focus on saxophone. These instructors are excellent for building a strong foundation, since they can teach reading music, music theory, and the fundamentals of saxophone playing. They also usually have performance experience from playing in a band or orchestra.
Once your child has learned the basics, often within a year or so, it may be wise to transition to a saxophone instructor with an advanced degree in saxophone performance to support continued growth.
Recording and Touring Experience
When finding an ideal saxophone teacher, it’s best to see if the teacher has listed any performance related accomplishments. This could include things like live performances, touring with musicians from the US and abroad, or being involved in studio recording sessions and song productions.
A good first step is to visit the teacher’s website and read their bio. If they have recordings of live performances available, take a few minutes to watch or listen.
Many experienced saxophone teachers share details about performing in different settings, such as woodwind ensembles, competitions, tours, or recording sessions with well known musicians and bands.
Teaching Experience in Saxophone
Besides checking the teacher’s college degree, it’s also important to look for a saxophone instructor with at least 3 years of teaching experience. The best saxophone teachers will almost certainly teach a variety of styles such as the Classical, Pop, Jazz and R&B.
Make sure to check which saxophone type your teacher can teach. There are 4 most common types of saxophone: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone. It’s also important to know which type of saxophone the instructor is specialized in teaching and performing.
Background Check
Not every saxophone teacher lists this online, but you should check if the teacher has done and passed a comprehensive background check, especially if the lesson is for your child. Some live online lesson websites, such as Lesson With You, offer free trial lessons with saxophone instructors who are fully background checked.
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Questions to ask when contacting a saxophone teacher
About the lessons
- How much does each lesson cost?
- When and how do you prefer payment for lessons?
- Is there a cancellation policy? If so, are there any fees?
- Can I reschedule lessons?
- Do you offer weekly lessons or package?
- Is there a family discount available?
About the saxophone instruction
- How many students do you teach? What ages and levels?
- How do you build a lesson plan? Is the curriculum customized?
- Do you expect students to participate in recital, jury or competition?
- What are your practice expectations for beginners and advanced students?
- Do you use saxophone method books? If not, what music will the student work on?
- How to do motivate students to practice saxophone and improve?
- Do you give daily or weekly assignments?
Try a trial lesson first before you commit
When reaching out to a few saxophone teachers, make sure to ask if they offer a
trial lesson. Taking a trial lesson will give you fresh insights on a couple of things:
- Does the teacher speak clearly and ask appropriate questions to the student? How does the teacher respond to the student’s answers and vice versa?
- How does the teacher initiate and lead the lesson? Is the lesson engaging and enjoyable? How often does the teacher play saxophone and demonstrate techniques?
- What is the teacher’s personality like—upbeat, quiet, or perhaps a little moody? Do they seem approachable and likable?
- How often does the teacher give feedback? Do they pay attention to detail and make corrections? How does the student respond to praise and constructive criticism?
- How does the instructor end the lesson? When giving assignments or homework, does the student leave with a clear understanding of what to work on next?
Choosing the right saxophone teacher after a trial lesson
Take your time to pick the right saxophone teacher for you or your child. Besides checking the trial lesson and teacher quality, think about these things before deciding.
Saxophone Lesson Costs
According to our recent saxophone lesson cost guide, the average cost is $35 for a half hour saxophone lesson. Live online lessons using video chats typically charge between $25-45 for a half hour lesson. Local private saxophone lessons averages $40 per half hour lesson, while in-person group lessons can cost $18 per half hour lesson.
Take some time to plan your budget and schedule, thinking about how long you want to take lessons and how often. Generally, it’s best to stick with lessons for at least six months to a year to see improvement in saxophone playing. If you take a break, like during summer, that’s fine, but taking more than three weeks off might set you back, and you may need to work on things again to catch up.
Flexible Scheduling
Your saxophone teacher should make scheduling and rescheduling lessons as flexible as possible. It’s never ideal when a teacher or student cancels too often, but having the option to reschedule without a fee is a helpful sign of flexibility and understanding.
Reviews
When looking for saxophone lessons either online or in-person, you should always check and read the lesson reviews. If you’re particularly looking for a live online lesson, you will notice the reviews left in the teacher profile. If 8 or 9 out of 10 reviews are positive, that means the teacher is likeable and able to teach a high-quality saxophone lesson.
If you want to get local in-person lesson recommendations, you can ask friends, neighbors or even find a saxophone teacher online and ask if they offer lessons in person.
Contracts
Not many saxophone lesson providers require long term commitment or contracts these days, but you’d still want to make sure if there’s a contract required before setting up the first lesson. It’s also recommended for students to check the type of payment the teacher prefers and when to send the payment.
Need help with finding an ideal saxophone teacher?
Lesson With You offers live online 1-on-1 lessons with exceptional saxophone instructors who hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher from top music schools. The first trial lesson is FREE — no contracts ever.
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Rose Park
Rose Park is a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where she studied Piano Performance and Arts Administration, receiving both Bachelor's and Master's degrees before co-founding Lesson With You. As a pianist, Rose was a prizewinner in many international piano competitions and performed at various summer programs and festivals across the United States, Italy, and Japan.