Level 1 — Initial Basic (Foundation Level)

Instrument fundamentals

• Parts of the saxophone (mouthpiece, reed, ligature, neck, body, keys, bell)
• Types of saxophone (conceptual): Alto / Tenor / Soprano / Baritone
• Correct posture: Standing and sitting position
• Neck strap adjustment
• Embouchure basics: Mouthpiece placement, lip position, jaw relaxation
• Breathing fundamentals: Diaphragmatic breathing, steady airflow

Notes & playing

• Assembling and caring for the instrument
• Producing a clear, stable tone
• Long-tone exercises (basic)
• Playing notes using correct fingering
• Simple melodic phrases
• Awareness of intonation (high/low pitch)

Scales (6)

• C Major, G Major, D Major
• A Minor (Natural), E Minor (Natural)
• F Major
• One octave, comfortable range for the instrument

Articulation techniques

• Introduction to tonguing
• Legato vs tongued notes
• Starting and stopping notes cleanly
• Breath control between phrases

Rhythm & timing

• Whole, half, quarter notes
• Simple rhythmic patterns
• Playing with steady pulse
• Time signatures: 4/4 and 3/4

Repertoire

• 2 pieces: One learner's choice (any language / genre / style)
• One technical or study piece (teacher / examiner guided)
• Self-composed melody permitted (8–16 bars within the learned scale range)

Music fundamentals

• What is music
• Sound vs silence
• Pitch and duration
• Breath and tone production concepts

Notes & rhythm

• Musical alphabet (A–G)
• Basic note values (whole, half, quarter)
• Rests (whole, half, quarter)
• Counting simple rhythms

Intervals

• Whole step / Half step (tone / semitone concept)

Scales

• Concept of major and minor scales
• Ascending and descending scales
• Structure of the major scale (W–W–H–W–W–W–H)

Harmony (conceptual)

• What is harmony
• Melody vs harmony
• Playing one note at a time in an ensemble

Notation (optional)

• Basic staff notation OR fingering charts and note names
• Bar lines and measures
• Time signatures: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4