10 Simple Saxophone Practice Songs For Children
The saxophone is an instrument that children can also learn to play. This article will provide you with 10 simple songs that are ideal for children when playing the saxophone.
1. “Ode to Joy”
When it comes to classical music, there is no easy song to play, the melody of which is as simple as Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", which is part of the fourth movement of his Ninth Symphony. This is a hugely popular song that has been performed around the world.
The melody of "Ode to Joy" is mainly played between five notes, with a very simple rhythm consisting of hooks, dotted hooks, and minor notes.
2. “Dance Monkey”
Released by Tones and I in 2019, “Dance Monkey” became an international hit. This jolly tune is recognizable and gets people up and dancing in no time. The track is based on four notes G, A, B and C - all played with the left hand, with a few more notes added to add interest.
“Dance Monkey” has a simple rhythm that is easy to control, but the song also uses the technique of inversions and interlacing. It's in A minor, which means it sounds a little throbbing when using simple notes that match the C major scale. Not only is this song great for beginners to learn the saxophone, but it's also fun to improvise for those looking to practice these skills.
3. “Alouette”
Alouette in French means lark, this is a famous song that is popular around the world today. This tune is of French origin, having been learned by Allied soldiers during the war who, after being discharged from the army, brought it home and then taught it to their families.
Today, "Alouette" is heard in full or in part everywhere, from Benjamin Britten's "Canadian Carnival" to starring in Casper: A Journey Through Ghost Country to a Cheyle Cole song , and even on the rooftops of football clubs.
“Alouette” has a simple melody in C major and a simple rhythm. It can be said that this piece of music is quite ideal for children who are just starting out, especially if they are looking to play in the classical style. Most of the notes of a piece of music are within an octave and it is good practice to use the octave key in the interval.
One of the iconic features of “Alouette” is that it can be played in rounds, meaning multiple people can play it, adding a fun mix and introducing the concept of playing with others.
4. “We Will Rock You”
Queen's iconic track "We Will Rock You" is next on the list. This is a song that needs no introduction as most people can instantly recognize it from the clapping and stomping intro! Playing along with an accompaniment, you can add weight to your version of the song and possibly get people singing along to you!
Learning this version of “We Will Rock You” is a great way to practice playing at C# key notation. It sounds complicated but this is very common with alto saxophones, especially when you play along with the guitar. "We Will Rock You" is divided into two parts: the opening verse and the chorus. The first passage uses a limited number of notes and is mainly rhythm-based. This makes it good practice for tongue and pronunciation. The chorus is based on the C#m scale and has a very simple rhythm.
5. “Can't Help Falling in Love”
“Can't Help Falling in Love” is one of Elvis Presley's most famous songs, but it was actually written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. The song was one of the highlights of Elvis' film Blue Hawaii and has also been covered by many artists since.
One of the main features of “Can't Help Falling in Love” is that it is set at 12/8, introducing the concept of “triplets”. This version is written in D scale, a common key signature and involves a lot of step movements, as well as leap 5th. It is housed in a simple A and B structure and can also be used to introduce the concept of repetition.
6. “Havana”
"Havana" was a hit by Cuban-American artist Camila Cabello in 2017 and peaked at number 1 in the UK Singles chart. The tune is written to a Latin (salsa-inspired) rhythm, perfect for use at large events, anyone can dance along and it's sure to impress everyone .
Much of the music's melody moves in a simple rhythm. “Havana” is the perfect song to practice playing simple rhythms.
7. “Speak Softly Love”
This is a song written for the movie The Godfather (1972). The melody of the song was composed by Italian musician Nino Rota (1911 - 1979) and played by the orchestra without lyrics called Love Theme from The Godfather, then written by Larry Kusik, titled Speak Softly Love. received the Academy Award for Best Original Score for The Godfather Part II (1974).
The rhythm and gentle melody of this very Italian love song, which has been in the hearts of people since the film's release in 1972, is the song "Speak Softly Love".
Since then, the echo of the love song has still been hummed here and there, many famous singers and bands such as Andy Williams, Bobby Vinton, Dalida, Guns & Roses, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra... have recorded. This song follows different styles of music. There is a version with soft music, beautiful as the love story of Michael Corleone and the Italian village girl - Apollonia; there is a version that is remixed and arranged in the style of hysterical rock (hard rock) like brutal battle battles between mafia groups.
The fact that this piece was written as an instrument is ideal for playing on the saxophone. In fact, the rhythm in this piece is very simple, however, when played, it brings out the interesting thing about the combination of simple rhythms but complex melodies.
8. “Scarborough Fair”
"Scarborough Fair" is a popular British folk song believed to have originated in Northumbria and Yorkshire. The song "Scarborough Fair" is a folk song from medieval England. Scarborough is a city located on the coast of England, a port that merchants and ships used at that time as a place to exchange goods and trade. The city was founded a thousand years ago, when the Viking lord Skartha, decided to stay permanently at Scarborough, making the port an important trading port in the North West of England.
The most popular version of this song is probably the one recorded by Simon and Garfunkel in 1966, but there have been many versions recorded over the years. “Scarborough Fair” is played mainly in Dorian mode, which has a melodious 3/4 key feel and key lock. This song is ideal for playing in the folk genre and includes a small amount of inversions with intermittent rhythms.
9. “Unchained Melody”
Unchained Melody had no name at first. It is a composition by musician Alex North written in 1936, then there were only melodies but no lyrics. North's intention was to write the then star singer, Bing Crosby, to sing and if Crosby liked the lyrics, North would fit in later.
But Bing Crosby refused and the untitled song was left in a drawer for nearly 20 years until 1954, the producer of the movie Unchained ordered North to compose a theme song for the film and North remembered to the work that had been snubbed by Crosby.
At that time, being ordered to write music for a movie was both an honor and even a life changer, especially for unknown authors like Alex North. Knowing that, North was very careful, he wanted to ask someone to write the lyrics for the movie's theme because he was afraid he could not afford it.
Very quickly, North found his close friend Hy Zaret, a lyricist, a good but a bit difficult hand. Which is really difficult, when asked Zaret to write the lyrics for the song, North immediately received a flat refusal. The reason is very simple, Zaret is busy… painting the walls of the house.
Knowing how to calculate Zaret, North waited until the walls were completely dry before coming back to raise the issue. 2 days later, North received it in full, not missing a word.
The song Zaret named Unchained Melody (Unchained Melody) is very true to the mood of the movie. The film tells the story of a man in prison day and night, looking forward to his lover outside the bars, dreaming of freedom, trying to escape from prison...
Arguably the most famous version is by the Righteous Brothers, recorded in 1965, but it is believed that the song has been recorded more than 1,500 times by over 650 different artists and also featured in the film Ghost.
“Unchained Melody” is a beautiful song that can be played by a perfect instrument. Most of the melody is slow, but it also has some slow chords with highs and lows, allowing learners to move their fingers flexibly.
This slow, lyrical song improves breath control and long notes, as well as speed and expression.
10. “The Imperial March”
“The Imperial March” from Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back is an iconic theme familiar to anyone who has seen the film. It was written by John Williams, the composer who wrote the entire Star Wars soundtrack.
The song has a strong, loud, tense melody and is a great tune to play on the saxophone! “The Imperial March” is a great choice for players to learn to control their breathing and maintain continuity in the strength of their notes.
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