Honestly, how hard is it to learn the saxophone?

When you've ever watched a street performer or a jazz legend go to town on a solo and considered how hard is it to learn the saxophone , you might be amazed by the reply. Unlike the violin, which can sound like a screeching kitty for the first year, or the trumpet, which requires the lip strength of an Olympic athlete just to hit a higher note, the saxophone is remarkably "user-friendly" at the start. ...

April 1, 2026 · 7 min · Gallardo Brandom