Should Young Girls Play the Saxophone?

Question:I have been encouraging my 10 year old daughter to take up the piano or violin, but she is adamant she wants to play the Saxophone. I have always considered this a ``male instrument''. I am worried that she might not have enough power in her lungs, or that it could damage the development of her teeth. What do others think?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I have been encouraging my 10 year old daughter to take up the piano or violin, but she is adamant she wants to play the Saxophone. I have always considered this a ``male instrument''. I am worried that she might not have enough power in her lungs, or that it could damage the development of her teeth. What do others think?

There are no "male" instruments in developed societies. Unless you want to consider the human voice an instrument--and even then, some men can develop a gorgeous soprano, and some women get a solid baritone.

Now, age 10 might be a year too early. Nobody should try to learn a wind instrument until the adult incisor teeth are fully developed (flute is an exception since it doesn't touch or push on the teeth). Some 10-year-olds are still working on that.

As for lung power, saxophone is one of the easier woodwinds. Oboe is the hardest on the lungs because the tiny reeds don't allow much air through and the air pressure inside the mouth is very high--so the oboist is sort of holding breath constantly. Flute is harder than sax because it's the opposite of the oboe, there's no resistance at all and so the player must develop a Tai-Chi-like internal control.

Make certain she has a competent teacher!

I think you should let her play what ever interment she wants. She has as much lung capacity as any boy does..

I can guarantee you she probably has much more "power" in her lungs than most boys. It is by no means a "male instrument". Would you discourage her from singing? Don't stifle your child if she shows an interest in something positive. It is no worse than the clarinet. I played that for years and survived.

Yes of course girlsplay the saxophone, if that is her preference i`d let her, as for the power in her lungs she will be taught how to breathe etc properly....

no the saxophone is for girl and boys look at The simpsons Lisa play it, and playing a musical instrument that she chose will encourage her to learn it quicker

No problems at all. The only risk is that you'll pay for an expensive instrument and she'll then go off the idea. There's nothing like a wind instrument for giving power to the lungs - and her teeth will be fine once she's learned to tongue it properly.

I hope you have sympathetic neighbours. I had to put up with 2 years of the girl next door practising the alto sax - until she discovered Mozart. After that it was all worthwhile - and she's got lovely teeth.

Hi, with the correct training you should not have to many worries, and there are quite a few ladies who play the sax such has Sue Terry

I think u better let her plays saxophone. Playing saxophone does not damage developing teeth, and her lungs will gradually become stronger when she learns saxophone. By the way, there are plenty of 10-years-old girls playing saxophone too, and they play it quite nice too!

No, absolutely not, girls should only be allowed to play the violin or the Harp.

In HS band a quarter of the sax players were girls. The downside is that classical music doesn't call for it, but is one of the better known instruments for jazz.

See if you can get a rental sax, as it might be something she tires of quickly, and let her try. Consult with the potential tutor to whether a smaller sax (soprano or the like) might be more manageable. (And be happy that with a single reed instrument, it's easier to learn how to be in tune!)

As a parent, make sure you start off with soft reeds, and whenever she is sick, make sure the old reeds are tossed and replaced.

If a tutor thinks it would be difficult, and there are no rentals, I'd suggest telling her the piano is an excellent way to become familiar with reading music, and that many great musicians have learned it first.

But I think letting her at least try a sax, would be good. Her hands might be too small to be able to reach all the keys. And if you use the piano as a first instrument, then she can tell her friends that she tried a sax, and will be playing it once she can read music well.

Girls play Sax, it's a fantastic instrument.

It's also extremely cool for girls to play it right now, just watch any episode of the Simpsons with little Maggie to see why.

And have you never heard of Candy Dulfer? Currently on tour with Rod Stewart, had chart hits and is massive all over the world.
http://www.candydulfer.nl/candy/

You should start her on an Alto as it's smaller and needs less lung capacity than the Tenor that i play, the Tenor is a lot bigger and heavier so she'd struggle to handle it.
The Soprano is an option but there is a mass of learning material for the Alto such as books, easy to play music, dvd's, etc and not that much for the Soprano.

As for the 'teeth' issue, you can buy cheap little stick on pads for the mouth piece, many people including the proffesionals use them.
There's more chance of her accidentally smacking herself in the mouth with it chipping her teeth but that can happen with any instrument.

The Sax is extremely cool, it's some thing you can play in an classical orchestra, a pop group, a jazz band, individually just down the pub, it just gives you so many options/choices compared to say a violin.
She can throw it over your shoulder and she's off to her gig unlike a piano or a huge keyboard she's no chance of carrying.

Go for a Sax but a good make such as Yamaha if you can, the cheap ones are a nightmare as they play out of tune and will making it impossible to learn.
Ask her tutor if he knows of a good second hand one but DON'T buy secondhand off Ebay, privately, etc unless you really know what your looking for/at.
They are a complex bit of kit, they can have loads of problems if it's been dropped or not looked after and could cost a lot to get repaired.

a male instrument?????????

Not sure about the age thing, you will be able to research whether wind instruments affect children, but I'd guess if they do it won't matter whether it's a boy or a girl.

As to female sax players, look at the girl from the band The Zutons!

let her do it, rather that than forcing asnything else, this could really damage her dude. power to the sax

well i think you should break out of the traditional or conventional way of thinking, i think if that's what she wants and she really has the passion for it then let her be.

you know it may be harmful.because this instrument needs a massive air blowing into that in order to make a Lil sound!
in this instrument you must have strong lungs to make a rhythmic sound.
the levels of sound stretch in this instrument is long so a weak lung of a young girl can't hold that !

I am a girl and I started playing the saxophone when i was 11 years old and is still playing it (14 years old). I'm in high school now and there are other girls playing the saxophone too. Please let her play it, its a great instrument. I started with the alto sax and I'm now playing the tenor sax.

In 1908 an upper class woman named Mrs. Elsie Hall commissioned a "Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone" from french composer Claude Debussy. If a very prominent and proper woman from Boston played the saxophone (still a very New instrument then) it's proper for and woman, or girl, though 10 years old might be a little young. If you can borrow or rent one give it a try &see if she's got the ability.

A girl in my school plays the saxophone,although she is kinda weird.Girls can do anything boys can do!