Tips for elderly retirees to learn saxophone

For retired seniors with ample free time, many seek to develop a hobby. Playing the saxophone has become a popular choice among middle-aged and elderly people because it not only allows them to enjoy the beauty of music but also helps improve lung capacity. Based on advice from professional saxophonists, here are some tips for beginners:

1. Don’t Play the Saxophone for Too Long Each Day

Some enthusiasts report practicing for three hours in the morning and another three in the afternoon, totaling six hours daily. After some time, they end up feeling dizzy or experiencing joint pain in their fingers, sometimes even requiring medical attention.
Playing the saxophone is meant to be a joyful and relaxing activity, not one that leads to a doctor’s visit.

While such dedication is admirable, it’s not a model to follow. Especially after the age of 40, the body’s organs and systems begin to decline, and self-regulation becomes weaker. Overexerting yourself with long practice sessions can cause harm rather than provide benefits.

Mastering the saxophone is not something that can be achieved overnight. It’s a long-term endeavor. No matter how hard you work, it generally takes at least three to five years to see significant progress. So, patience is key. Avoid the mindset of rushing for quick results or “forcing growth.”

Let me emphasize: for amateur saxophonists, especially middle-aged and elderly enthusiasts, professional training methods are not suitable. Those methods are designed for young, energetic students in university settings. For us, the saxophone is a source of enjoyment, not a profession. Most of us are older and started learning later in life. If you insist on pursuing a professional path, you may be setting yourself up for frustration.

Recommended Practice Routine

For older learners, I suggest limiting daily practice to no more than three hours. Even within this time frame, take a break every 20 minutes.
In terms of effectiveness, practicing three hours a day for a month yields far better results than practicing six hours daily for half a month. Learning the saxophone is about “consistent accumulation,” not simply piling on hours of practice.

2. Addressing Dizziness While Playing

Some players experience dizziness during practice, which can result from fatigue, improper posture, or an unsuitable neck strap.
Let’s focus on posture and the neck strap:

• Correct Posture: The neck strap should bear the weight of the saxophone, which places pressure on the neck. Narrow or thin straps can compress the neck over time, leading to poor blood flow to the brain, resulting in neck discomfort and dizziness.
• Solutions:
  1. Limit each session to 10 minutes and take breaks.
  2. Use a wider and more comfortable neck strap, such as the Mansdone strap, which has a padded, widened design that is soft, comfortable, and doesn’t strain the neck. This strap has been widely praised by saxophone players for years.
     

3. Preventing Finger Joint Pain

This issue often arises from two factors: incorrect posture and excessive practice time. In some cases, players develop conditions like tenosynovitis or arthritis.

The main culprit is incorrect posture:

• Proper Hand Positioning: The right thumb should push outward, not upward. If your thumb has to push upward, it indicates that your strap is too long, causing the saxophone to hang too low. This forces your fingers to strain upward to reach the keys and your head to bend down toward the mouthpiece, which is incorrect and unattractive.
• Correct Posture: Stand naturally upright, keep your head level, adjust the strap to a suitable height, and let the mouthpiece enter your mouth smoothly with a slight outward push of the right thumb. This posture ensures proper airflow through the mouthpiece and into the saxophone, resulting in better sound quality.

Since most enthusiasts are self-taught without professional guidance from the beginning, these issues are common. However, they can be corrected with timely adjustments.

We hope all senior saxophone enthusiasts can find joy and fulfillment in learning to play while maintaining their health and well-being.