Trumpet or Saxophone?

[Anonymous]

My rising 5th grader is having a hard time choosing between trumpet and saxophone for beginning band. The band teacher did a demonstration, but the students didn't get an opportunity to try the instruments themselves, which has made the decision more difficult. My child is music-oriented. I've encouraged them to pick one instrument now and remind them that switching next year is always an option. However, they're also the type of child who can become discouraged if something feels especially difficult at the beginning. I'd love to hear from parents, students, or band directors who have experience with either instrument.

A few questions:

• What are the pros and cons of trumpet versus saxophone for a beginner?
• Are there practical considerations (cost, maintenance, carrying the instrument, finding teachers, etc.) that you wish you had known when your child started?
• Are there more opportunities for one instrument than the other in school bands, jazz band, marching band, etc. and is one instrument generally in higher demand than the other for school ensembles?
• Do private lessons become necessary for students who want to advance, audition for honor bands, or continue through high school? If so, at what stage did lessons become worthwhile?
• Looking back, is there anything you would do differently when helping your child choose an instrument?

I'd appreciate any advice, lessons learned, or things you wish someone had told you before your child started band!

[Anonymous]

Take them to a music store and have them try to the instruments. You are way over thinking this for 5th grade band.

[Anonymous]

A music store may allow you to rent both for a month over the summer. Your child could try them both out for a while before picking one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising 5th grader is having a hard time choosing between trumpet and saxophone for beginning band. The band teacher did a demonstration, but the students didn't get an opportunity to try the instruments themselves, which has made the decision more difficult. My child is music-oriented. I've encouraged them to pick one instrument now and remind them that switching next year is always an option. However, they're also the type of child who can become discouraged if something feels especially difficult at the beginning. I'd love to hear from parents, students, or band directors who have experience with either instrument.

A few questions:

• What are the pros and cons of trumpet versus saxophone for a beginner?
• Are there practical considerations (cost, maintenance, carrying the instrument, finding teachers, etc.) that you wish you had known when your child started?
• Are there more opportunities for one instrument than the other in school bands, jazz band, marching band, etc. and is one instrument generally in higher demand than the other for school ensembles?
• Do private lessons become necessary for students who want to advance, audition for honor bands, or continue through high school? If so, at what stage did lessons become worthwhile?
• Looking back, is there anything you would do differently when helping your child choose an instrument?

I'd appreciate any advice, lessons learned, or things you wish someone had told you before your child started band!

I'm a professional classical musician.
Trumpet is a harder start, but every musical instrument has its challenges. If your child has a good ear for matching pitch, trumpet becomes a bit easier.
Trumpet and saxophone are pretty similar in terms of size/transport. Woodwinds (including saxophones) take a little more maintenance because of the keys/pads.
Both trumpet and saxophone are pretty popular so no benefit in terms of need from a band director's point of view. They can both do marching band and jazz band. No saxophone in orchestra for the most part.
If your child is serious about music, they should start private lessons the 2nd or 3rd year of playing (by middle school). Look for someone in one of the military bands - not just someone at a music store.

In the long run, it's best to have your child pick for themselves!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your responses!

[Anonymous]

Start early with lessons so good habits are taught

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start early with lessons so good habits are taught

You mean private lessons? Do you have any recommendations for a great tutor for these instruments please?

[Anonymous]

Saxamaphone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Start early with lessons so good habits are taught

You mean private lessons? Do you have any recommendations for a great tutor for these instruments please?

You don't need a great tutor when you start. You need someone who can help them with the basics, like how to produce a tone or in the case of the saxophone, how to attach the reed properly and care for it.

To find tutors, it's best to contact the band directors at your local MS and HS. They keep lists of tutors for various instruments and their recommendations tend to be local to your area.

[Anonymous]

Saxophones need reeds. Trumpets do not so there's that.

Trumpets get to play taps. And play in a drum and bugle corps. Any band I have been in has been thirsty for a really good trumpet player. If you don't have that it really shows.

[Anonymous]

It really doesn't matter, just get Larlo/lLarlo started - they will gravitate to their instrument. The same discipline, and energy is needed to become a "musician." A top US saxophone player started out on trumpet and later switched to sax. The key word is "instrument" - the music is the person.

[Anonymous]

One thing I don't think people think about is when they get to middle school, kids who play very popular instruments (see trumpet and saxophone) may get asked to switch instruments. My kid had to switch to the french horn from the trumpet.

My advice is pick a less common instrument than either of these two, but particularly less popular than the trumpet if your kid is the type who would balk at switching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing I don't think people think about is when they get to middle school, kids who play very popular instruments (see trumpet and saxophone) may get asked to switch instruments. My kid had to switch to the french horn from the trumpet.

My advice is pick a less common instrument than either of these two, but particularly less popular than the trumpet if your kid is the type who would balk at switching.

Interesting to know! So which are the less popular woodwinds instruments? My DC's school I heard a lot of children wanted to do Flute, so I did not realize that Saxophone is very popular too.

[Anonymous]

My son started with clarinet then went to alto sax and now plays tenor sax. Did marching band and jazz band. I would suggest watching some YouTube videos of each instrument and ask him which sound he likes best.

[Anonymous]

Trumpet sucks with braces so if a lot of time in those is in the future, that’s a factor in favor of saxophone