5 Things to Practice in 2026 for Saxophone Players

Going into 2026, this is a good moment to set some goals for your saxophone playing and practicing in the coming year. What should you be practicing, what goals should you be setting, and how can you give yourself the best possible start to the new year? I’ll break down five things you should focus on practicing in the coming year if you want to see the most progress on your saxophone.

1. Long Tones and Overtones

The first thing you should be practicing in 2026 is long tones and overtones.

If you follow saxophone-related content online, you already know this is something that gets emphasized a lot, and for a very good reason. Long tones and overtones have a tremendous impact on your saxophone sound, and your sound is the first thing people hear when you play.

Working on long tones helps you get your breath, your air stream, and your embouchure ready for playing the saxophone. Doing just a small amount of long tones every day before you move on to the rest of your practice will make a huge difference to your sound over time.

The same applies to overtones. Every note you play on the saxophone needs to be voiced properly before the air stream even hits the instrument. Learning to control this voicing is exactly what overtone practice trains. As with long tones, a little bit every day goes a long way.

A good habit for the next year is to start every practice session with some long tones and some overtones. On my Patreon, there is a 12-week course focused entirely on playing overtones, starting from the very basics and moving into more advanced overtone exercises.

2. Scales, Full Range and in All Keys

The next thing to focus on is scales. This does not mean playing scales up and down in a single octave. Scales should be practiced through the full range of the horn. It also means practicing more than just the major scale. Harmonic minor and melodic minor should definitely be included as well.

If you are already comfortable playing these scales in every key, full range, then take the next step and practice them in intervals: thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, and sevenths.

This type of scale work formed the technical requirements of the woodwind finals at Berklee College of Music.

Long tones and scales are essential, but they are also some of the most boring things to practice. So let’s get to the good stuff.

3. Vocabulary

Set a goal for 2026 to learn at least a small amount of new vocabulary every week. This could mean transcribing an entire solo or just a short lick and then taking that material through all 12 keys.

Whenever you hear a lick you really like, make a quick note of what song it comes from and where it happens. Later, bring it into the practice room, transcribe it, break it down, and figure out what is going on musically. Then practice it in all 12 keys in a structured way.

There is also a PDF on Patreon that focuses on taking licks through all 12 keys in an efficient and systematic way.

4. Articulation, Phrasing, and Time

The fourth area to work on is something many players forget to practice consciously: everything that affects your playing beyond sound and vocabulary. This includes articulation, phrasing, and especially time.

These elements can be practiced in several ways. When working on vocabulary, pay close attention to the articulation being used in the licks you transcribe. When practicing scales, apply different articulation patterns instead of playing everything the same way. Practice with a metronome and experiment with placing it on different beats of the bar. Try it on one and three, two and four, and on various upbeats. Work on making it swing or groove depending on the style you’re playing.

The metronome does not lie, and it is one of the most effective tools for developing strong time.

5. Motivation

The final thing to focus on in 2026 is your motivation for playing the saxophone.

Listen to music that makes you want to practice. Play gigs that give you something back musically. Staying connected to what inspires you is essential for long-term progress.

Finding a supportive community can also be extremely motivating. Through my Patreon, there is access to a Discord server where saxophone players from all over the world share progress, discuss what to practice, and help each other stay focused.

Whether you are just starting out or you are an intermediate or advanced player, being part of a community can help you stay motivated, clarify your goals, and hold yourself accountable.

Take a moment to write down your goals for 2026 when it comes to practicing and playing the saxophone. Make sure to include both long-term goals and short-term goals.

Short-term goals provide smaller rewards along the way, and those rewards are often what keep motivation high. Finding ways to create these smaller milestones makes it much easier to stay consistent and keep improving over time.

With a clear direction, solid fundamentals, and sustainable motivation, you give yourself the best possible chance of becoming the best saxophone player you can be in the coming year.

Happy New Year!